Pioneering Contribution of the Faculty of Health Tourism in Supporting Health Tourism in Morocco

In the framework of academic efforts aimed at developing specialized tourism fields, and within the activities of the Master's in Tourist Communication and Heritage Valorization at the Multidisciplinary Faculty of Errachidia – Moulay Ismail University, in collaboration with the International Center for Tourism, Environment, and Heritage, under the supervision of course coordinator Dr. Reza Chalfi, the Faculty of Health Tourism continues its pioneering role in promoting and enhancing the concept of health tourism across the Arab world and Africa.
The specialized course in "Health Tourism" has resumed in the Kingdom of Morocco, framed by Dr. Abdel Aaty El-Mannai, health tourism expert and founder of the Faculty of Health Tourism, as part of direct scientific cooperation aimed at transferring academic and practical expertise to students.
Students of the Multidisciplinary Faculty at Moulay Ismail University in Errachidia benefit from this program, where Dr. El-Mannai delivers comprehensive scientific content combining theoretical foundations and practical applications in health tourism.
Key Focus Areas of the Course
The course emphasizes the core pillars of health tourism patterns, including:
Therapeutic tourism
Environmental healing tourism
Facilitated health tourism
It highlights Morocco's abundant natural potentials in environmental healing, such as mineral, sulfurous, and saline springs, black sands, alongside studying healing maps for several countries designed by El-Mannai during his scientific career, and discussing investment opportunities and development prospects in this vital sector.
This course forms part of a series of specialized scientific lectures, including those on facilitated health tourism, enhancing deeper understanding of inclusive tourism concepts accessible to all categories.
Strategic Impact and Future Prospects
This initiative represents a strategic step toward qualifying Moroccan competencies, leveraging Dr. El-Mannai's expertise as a pioneer in establishing specialized health tourism education at the Arab level, alongside his scientific contributions in several countries.
It is expected to contribute to building a sustainable health tourism system, enhancing Morocco's position as a leading global destination in health tourism due to its natural and human resources, skilled physicians, healthcare and tourism infrastructure, and tourism experts.