Morocco: Trampling Marakkesh  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Marakkesh is regaining its days of glory as the Mecca of tourists. With new mentions in international media, what do Moroccan bloggers have to say about the influx of tourists into their country? Here are the views from two of Morocco's louder bloggers.
Laila Lalami is appalled with the damage some tourists bring to ancient sites.
“The New York Times has a travel piece on Marrakesh, which I fear will result in even more tourists crowding the city. When we were there last spring, I saw a moronic British tourist sticking his ass out of one of the windows of the Ben Youssef Medersa. The floors of the seminary's student rooms were damaged by all the activity, and one of the guides kept touching the exquisite plaster work in the inner courtyard with his bare hands. (The photo above gives you a small idea of what you'll see on any given day at the famous medersa.) The tile floors at the Bahia palace were completely falling apart, and people had no regard for the artifacts. The Menebhi palace was also starting to show signs of wear. Sad,” she laments.
Meanwhile, A Moro in America (Ar) counters the argument saying that targeting the ‘right’ type of tourist will bring much needed money to boost the tourism industry and other trades linked to it.