Morocco advances national surf towns label project
Morocco has launched the scientific and technical development phase of its first national surf towns label, marking a significant step in a project designed to support and recognize coastal communities whose growth is closely linked to surfing and the wider surf economy.
Announced in Agadir in July 2026, the initiative is led by the Taghazout Surf Expo. The project aims to create a national framework that will help assess, guide, and promote territories where surfing plays a central role in local economic development.
The concept emerged from discussions held during previous editions of the Taghazout Surf Expo. It forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Morocco’s surf tourism sector, which has become an increasingly important driver of economic activity and destination appeal for many coastal municipalities.
Following several years of preparation, consultations with public and private stakeholders, and contributions from national and international experts, the project has now entered its scientific engineering stage.
Under the coordination of scientific director Stéphanie Crabeck, a dedicated scientific committee is working on the criteria, indicators, and assessment mechanisms that will form the basis of the future surf towns label.
The framework is intended to provide local authorities with practical tools to balance economic growth with environmental protection, tourism quality, social inclusion, and effective local governance.
The future label will be built around five core pillars. These include coastal planning and management, blue economy development and tourism attractiveness, accessibility and inclusion, ecosystem protection and climate resilience, and territorial governance and innovation.
Project leaders Said Bella and Rachid Moutchou said the initiative is designed not as a simple tourism distinction but as a long-term management tool capable of supporting sustainable territorial development.
The next phase will involve completing an initial version of the framework and testing it in selected pilot territories before a wider rollout.
Beyond the surfing sector, project organizers view the label as a platform for territorial innovation that could serve as a model for other tourism industries across Morocco.
Through this initiative, the Taghazout Surf Expo seeks to strengthen its role as a center for research, reflection, and innovation focused on the sustainable development of Morocco’s coastal regions.
