Abaynou Ecotourism Masterplan

Aziza Chaouni Projects won the bid to develop a masterplan for the thermal complex of Abaynou. We proposed to include the entire oasis of Abaynou and its village in the masterplan in order to craft a destination that is resilient and innovative, and globally open to tourists, with a strong focus on ecotourism, sustainable construction and landscape regeneration.

Our masterplan, co-designed with local stakeholders, proposed to achieve these goals through several initiatives. First, by increasing the average length of stays through improving the customer experience and developing innovative and attractive tourist activities. Second, by enhancing the cultural, natural, historical, and archaeological heritage to improve the living conditions of local populations. Third, by creating a diversified and complementary range of tourist accommodations. Lastly, by developing a wellness tourism experience combining thermalism and agritourism.

The future of Abaynou will be resilient, sustainable, and attractive both nationally and internationally. To achieve this, its tourism development plan will be centered on intersectoral sustainable development, with an emphasis on valuing its natural, agricultural, cultural, and historical heritage.

This masterplan proposes the following key actions: maximizing the potential of the thermal spring by equipping it with facilities that meet international standards, adapted to the local context, and addressing the challenges of climate change and water scarcity; revitalizing the ancestral Abaynou oasis as a nourishing agro-forest ecosystem, by capitalizing on and enhancing local knowledge, strengthened by permaculture principles; and creating a set of leisure and relaxation spaces around the Abaynou oasis and its adjacent grounds to ensure year-round activity at the destination.

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