Arturo Calleja

7/28/2019 Arturo Calleja

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CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1 Introduction to the problem

When we talk about Tourism, we are referring to a rather complex

phenomenon that involves a thousand aspects. The World Tourism Organization

(WTO, 2005) defines tourism as the activities of a person travelling outside his or

her usual environment for a specified period of time and whose name purpose of

travel is other than exercise of an activity remunerated from the place visited

World Tourism Organization (2005). We can say then that tourism is the activity

that implies to visit another place different from the local environment for a period

of time which can go from one day up to one year; after a year we should talk in

terms of a temporary residence.

At present day tourism is a very important activity in most of the places

around the world; the Mexican economy is based on tourism because it is the

activity that contributes to employment and economic welfare, it helps to build

social and political relationships with other countries, too. Tourism is a social factor

because it allows developing relations between one culture and another, it allows

people to be able to learn more about other cultures and their traditions. In addition

tourism is an activity that can be done for different purposes such as recreation,

relaxation or business.

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According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO: World Tourism, V 5.

No. 2, 2007), France, Spain, United Kingdom, China, and Italy are among the 50

most visited countries in the world. In the European continent, France is the top

destination chosen by international tourists. It may be due to the fact that people

think that Europe has everything starting with natural areas, history, beautiful

landscapes etc. Most of Mexican tourists, who decide to make a trip out of their

continent, always think about visiting Paris: The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame

Cathedral, Seine River, etc. Why do people always just have in mind Europe? Well

an easy possible answer would be that most of them prefer trendy places or maybe

they do not have enough information about other places that are similar or more

historical than the famous Paris. However, they should consider that there can be

other places which would offer the same beauty at more affordable costs. Many

people do not want to visit a different country just because they do not know

anything about the tourist attractions that the place has, and this is the case of

Rabat which is a great option in Africa. People have not heard all the amazing

things Rabat offers and the best way to experience country like this or any other, is

to be in close contact with the inhabitants and native people, their culture and

language, not only visiting it.

First of all, Africa is cheaper than Europe so people can save more money

and enjoy as much as if they spent a lot of money in Europe and in Rabat people

can enjoy nature and wildlife with all the comfort and beauty to their eyes and

relaxation.

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Africa is the less visited continent in the world, (WTO 1998 a: 29) just few

people decide to go there. It is essential to know that African culture is very

important and interesting too. We can find more beautiful and quiet places there

than in Europe. Also Africa does not have much activity in the sector of tourism, but

that could be because of the lack of promotion or the interest of the people to visit

that country. One of the countries to visit in the African continent is Morocco there

tourists would be able to be in contact with native old people who can teach lots of

things about their country.

Morocco, whose capital is Rabat, is an enchanted area. It has nice and

sophisticated hotels and places to eat; it also has lots of places full of things to see

and do and places full of natural beauty. That kind of beauty is very uncommon and

you cannot find it easily and everywhere as in Paris. Rabat is located in the African

continent, in the Atlantic Ocean, near the Bou Regreg river. That means that Rabat

has a lot of water around it, and that gives the country a special and fantastic touch

for the tourist.

Rabat is a very historical country which has many monuments and important

museums and it is a clean modern city. It is important to mention as well that Rabat

is not only an historical country, but also multicultural. People can learn about the

culture and the customs of one part of the African continent, and enjoy places that

are incredible for all the family. Rabat is an excellent option for the tourist who

wants both amazing landscapes and experience new dazzling cultures. It is easy to

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find anywhere food from all over the world such as the Italian, French, Chinese etc,

but it is more difficult to find food from African countries. People have to think better

before traveling, because in this way they can experience new emotions. When

tourists prefer to chose Rabat as a major destination instead of Paris, they can

realize they can enjoy themselves more in Rabat, because in this city they are able

to be in close contact with very different cultures, languages, customs, etc. and the

best thing without spending much money. Thinking of a different continent means

thinking in very different contexts. When people visit a tourist destination and they

like it, they will recommend it to their friends, acquaintances or well-known people.

If this happens, it is easier for this place to be promoted in a faster way, making it

more attractive and popular destination by the time, as Rabat could be.

If Rabat is not promoted people will not be able to discover and visit so

many calm and relaxing areas. Additionally to this contrast to other main tourist

centers within Morocco, Rabat gives very low rates. We do not know if people just

visit those places because they do not have enough information about other places

or continents that they can visit. Ignorance makes people make decisions that do

not allow them to experiment something new, near other people and culture that

could be more interesting than that of Europe.

The Moroccans are well known by their hospitality and will do all they can to

make you feel at home. If people feel that they really would like to have a change

and experience something new, this visit will help them to get incredible

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experiences and also its memorie will live on. This could be the unique experience

they will have and that will help them to look at the world from a different angle for

a long time but to look the African continent in different angle too as we do.

Thus, the main problem seems to be the lack of information and promotion

of such an ideal place to visit and a rising question is whether it is possible to find

out why people chose one given destination such as Paris instead of one like

Rabat. Is it possible than once people are given the proper information and

guidance about a city like Rabat they would change their mind and prefer it over

other places?

1.2 General objective

To give an account of the reasons people have when choosing a tourist

destination.

To know the general idea that people have about Africa. If they have a

negative idea, make them realize the benefits of knowing the continent and

its tourist richness.

1.3 Specific Objectives

To find out why people prefer going to Paris than going to any other

country.

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To provide the Foreign Languages students with proper information so that

they can consider the African continent as a place to visit.

To create this thesis which will gather the most important information about

Rabat, as well as describing the most interesting points about it.

1.4 Hypothesis

Providing Mexican tourists with information about Rabat would make them

realize that Rabat is a worthy tourist destination; as a consequence, they would

probably prefer to visit Rabat instead of Paris.

1.5 Importance

With this research and with the evaluation of the answers, the decision of

the Mexican tourist should be easier to make, and as a result of their decision

African economy could improve and become more acquainted with the world. Also,

Mexican tourists could save more money and enjoy at the same time, by making

the decision of traveling to Rabat instead of Paris. They can change the statistics

of tourist visit in Rabat, and help others to change their mind and visit uncommon

places, and not so commercial ones.

1.6 Limitations

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The present research will be only made according to the needs observed in

Mexican Tourist by making an interview at the UMAD from San Andres Cholula.

Therefore this investigation will be valid only for this group that I had described

before and in the places that have already been mentioned. The places that will be

covered on this research are only the city of Rabat in the African continent and the

city of Paris in the European continent; however people should consider that there

are plenty of other places in the same situation as Rabat.

1.7 Organization of the research

This thesis work has been organized in five chapters. Chapter one is the

introduction and here the problem, objectives and the research hypothesis have

been presented. In chapter two there is the Theoretical background where there

exists a review on the pertinent literature. Chapter three includes the methodology

of the research; here there are the steps of how the information was obtained and

how it was processed. Chapter four was devoted to the results of the research

and Chapter five includes the conclusion of all the research and some

suggestions, having in mind the pertinent list of references that were used in all

the investigation.

CHAPTER TWO

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The lack of information for Mexican tourist created the necessity to write this

thesis research providing proper information about Rabat as a primary tourist

destination. The reason for this is because the information is not that easily

available for the Mexican tourist. The literature reviewed in this chapter deals with

tourism in Mexico. In addition, most of the time, the Mexican tourist visits the most

attractive places without taking into consideration other options or places to visit.

For this reason, we felt compelled to make tourists aware of Rabat as a worthy

place to visit.

2.1 Definition of tourism

The usual meaning for tourism comes from Latin. Las races del turismo

son dos; tour yturn, ambas derivadas del latn tornus (torno) como

sustantivo (redondear, tornear y en latn girar). Y tornare como verbo (de las que

se aprecia por raz comn la idea de giro, de viaje circular y de vuelta al punto de

partida). (Fernndez Fuster, Luis, Teora y Tcnica del Turismo, and Teora

General de Turismo. (2a Edicin) Manuel Ramrez Blanco. Ed. Diana. Octubre,

1992, p. 29). In other words it can be said that the roots in tourism are two:

tour and turn which come from Latin tornus, and both having the meaning of

going around in a trip. Even though some other authors say that the origins of the

word tourism can be found in the Bible when Moses, whilst wandering in search

of the Promised Land, sent twelve spies to recognize the land of Canaan, which

he had been attempting to conquer. Traveling thus was mandatory (Fernandez

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Cano, 1984 p.3-10). On the other hand, tourism, as ancient as the man himself,

began at a point when man evolved and became sedentary. In that time, traveling

on foot was a must for the human wanting to survive, as stated in testimonies

found in ancient cultures like the Egyptian, Chinese, Greek and Roman, among

others (Francis, D K.1997). It can be concluded that through the centuries,

traveling has not been considered an obligation any longer but a pleasure,

destination and entertainment. Therefore, to know exactly the meaning of tourism

it is necessary to know its etymological root since it is an old activity that, by our

time, has gone through different changes depending on the languages where this

term is used.

2.1.1 Tourism

Tourism is an old activity that has changed through the time. Something

worth mentioning is the words relationship to leisure as seen in classic Greece.

The Greek were quite focused on leisure and free time in order to attend the

Olympic Games of the VIII century. The people from that century attended sport

competitions that were celebrated in Olympia every four years. Since that time,

tourism has become a popular global and important activity. However, tourism in

that time was very difficult to accomplish because those trips were of great length,

uncomfortable, risky and very expensive. As background information, it can be

stated that Thomas Cook, who carried out the first group trip by train in 1841,

started his own business running rail excursions for pleasure. Its possible to say

that tourism was born at the end of the XVIII century and at the beginning of the

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XIX in England as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution and it was called

GRAND TOUR (2008, www.AIEST.com URL). In those days, students and

businessmen traveled to Europe in order to study in France, Rome, Florence and

other cultural centers (Robert W.1999, p. 53). In conclusion, since man has

always traveled since his appearance in the world, it can be stated that tourism

has various approaches to its study depending on the language where it is used

as it has already been mentioned.

2.1.2 Definition of tourist

A tourist is someone who travels just for recreation, leisure or business and

upon completion of this activity he returns home. In addition to this definition,

tourists are people who travel to and stay in places outside their native country

(not only) for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not for more than one

consecutive year (Fernandez, 1967). But it is important to know that this activity is

not remunerated for the visitor. In the same way, we can take into consideration

another definition: A partir del significado de las races latinas puede definirse,

etimolgicamente al turista como la persona que viaja temporalmente y regresa a

su lugar de origen o residencia permanente (Ramrez Blanco Manuel, Apuntes

del curso de introduccin al estudio del turismo, Mxico 1966, p. 30). As a result,

tourist can be defined as someone who performs a temporal journey especially

for pleasure.

2.1.3. Tourism Shifting

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that after the Second World War mass tourism started in 1975 growing up to 20

million movements. In the same way those movements were recognized as

International Tourism (Robert W., 1999). So to be considered an international

Tourism participant must spend at leastone day in the receiving country and their

duration of stay must not surpass 12 months. In addition, this activity implies to

know other people, take part in a cultural exchange which includes social and

educative values. As a result the economics of the country visited grows up and

with the help of the foreign currency to the receiving nation. In addition

International Tourism is nowadays a modern phenomenon in the world.

2.1.4. Temporary Tourism Stay

The tourism stay depends on the necessities that each tourist has. The

causes for tourism are many, but the motivations are classified in 4 main ideas that

are fundamental and those are: recreation, rest, culture and health, but they are

also classified in other types because it depends on the necessities and wishes of

the tourist. First of all, we can say that tourism could be of short or long stay when

it is based on the average of time of permanence that a tourist has. Other sorts of

tourism are the excursion and the autonomous ones. On one hand we have the

excursion tourism which implies a full itinerary, which offers a package or a global

offer, and can be gotten by the tourist agent. Those can be characteristics and

categories of transportation to be used during the organised excursion, any meal

plan if applicable, pricing (including taxes and any additional charges), the method

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of payment, a minimum number of persons required for the excursion, the date by

which the traveller should be informed in the event of cancellation, and finally

details of insurance coverage. On the other hand, is the autonomous tourism which

is practiced by the tourist based on an itinerary that the tourist makes by himself. It

means hes taking his own necessities and wishes for doing so; comparing both,

the tourist shall choose the best option according to his needs. Equally important

are the free and focused tourism. This type of tourism exists when the tourist freely

decides when, how long, and where hes going to. Also included are the time of

stay, the transportation service, the places to visit, the activities and other wishes

(World Tourism Organization, 2005). In a word, the tourist shall determine the

needs and characteristics of the trip.

2.1.5 Tourist services

A lot of people like to have a great experience when they are taking

holidays. Traveling also involves getting a good service, attention and of course,

good prices. Servicio turstico se entiende como toda actividad realizada por

una persona fsica o moral, pblica o privada, tendiente a satisfacer necesidades

especficas directamente planteadas por el desplazamiento turstico. (Instituto

Mexicano de Investigaciones Tursticas, and Teora General de Turismo. (2a

Edicin) Manuel Ramrez blanco. Ed. Diana. Octubre, 1992, p.66). In other words

tourist services means all activities realized for the visitor in order to satisfy all

their needs that imply the tourist shifting. It is essential to provide all the services

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needed by the tourist when travelling. Actually, tourism is recognized for the

services that are being offered. According to Ramirez (1992) these services cover

needs related to accommodation, meal, clothing and the pleasure of the tourist.

For this reason, it is important to consider all the following aspects in order to

provide the lodging services that shall include innovation services, sport, and

recreational or green areas such as gardens. As a result, there exists a

classification about lodging services; those can be of the type of hotel or extra-

hotel (Ramrez, (1992). In this case it is important to take into consideration the

lodging before a trip. As a conclusion, it can be said any related services for

accommodations must be provided at the hotel or housing structures that offer a

place for the tourist to spend the night.

2.1.5.1 Types of Hotels

Due to the enormous increase in tourism worldwide during the last

decades of the XX century it is a basic need for everyone who travels to find an

accommodation. A hotel is a site that provides paid lodging on for a short period.

The root of the word hotel is derived from French that means a place offering

accommodation (Robert W., 1999). Hence, hotels also generally make other

services available such as offering a meal, parking, food, beverages,

entertainment, a swimming pool, banquets, convention, and meeting facilities.

The provision of a basic accommodation consists of a room with a bed, a small

table, a cupboard, and a bathroom. In other words the services rendered by

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hotels are generally more complete than those offered by motels and other

lodging places. In contrast, we have Motels, including all services normally

included in the price of lodging. Those are typically located along the highways or

thoroughfares and cater specifically to the needs of people traveling by cars.

Another one is the Motor-hotels commonly known as motels, it is more recent

creation and it is located in urban important centers mainly. It is almost similar to a

hotel about its construction, different in the space for special parking and its

related services. Another one is the Resident-hotels, it has a special direction to

the tourist who wants to stay in a foreign place for long time; these places are

expensive and luxurious places with suites that are not rented per day (Ramirez,

1992, p. 70). In general the types of accommodation can be according to the

necessities of the tourists needs.

2.1.5.2 Other Accommodations

Unlike the hotel, those places not have the same luxuries, and the work

team is reduced. The service given to the tourist is minimum because it does not

offer the restaurant service, a swimming pool, snack bar, meeting rooms etc.

(Ramirez, 1992, p. 72). For this reason, those following places are classified in

apartments or particular houses because this sort of places included are all other

services provided by such sites in connection with the provision of lodging, such

as bathroom, living room, kitchen, dining room, two or four rooms. Those are

rented for families at least a week or a month or for the vacation season. Another

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one is the guests houses or inns. Most of those housing provide only lodging with

a limited number of rooms; although some may include food serving services, but

it can be rented with or without meals and also the option of laundry. Those are

very usual for students and can also be rented per days, months or years.

Another one is the Tourist fields that mean free space in which you are in close

contact with nature, designed for Trailers and recreational vehicles parks or

camping-sites. Such services include provision of site only or an option that

includes water, electricity, gas, and a little building as cafeteria, laundry,

bathroom, and yard. Another one is the Youth hostels service is provided by

school dormitories, residence halls or youth hostels. These special places are

distinguished for young people that can be accepted by certain rules or

requirements although the accommodation is limited to a maximum of three days

and the prices are really cheap and sometimes they include food.

Finally are the Shelters and cabins. Those are used by people who like

sports and those are localized in fishing and hunting areas and also are using

then for a short period of time by a group of tourists or for visitors that like

ecological areas. Its constructions are rustic and are cheaper than the options

afore mentioned (Ramirez, 1992, p. 72). It can be concluded that those places are

designed for all kind of people that like different experiences.

2.1.5.3 Meal services

The meal services are very essential in life for all of us because it satisfies

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a big vital need. This service can be provided through different sites such as

restaurants, cafeterias or vending machines. With time those places had changed

considerable; so those changes have been made in quality, prices, and

infrastructure. There are certain restaurants that can be considered the self

service that is used when people serve themselves as; snack bars, buffets or fast

food places. In addition, the restaurants can be classified according to the

characteristics of the place.

According to Ramirez, (1992, p. 91) meal services referred to a simply to

the service in which the food is served. However Robert W. (1999) say that due to

the enormous demand from tourists has created the necessity to develop new

concepts and trends that include ethnic restaurants, especially typical

gastronomy, increasing in the inclusion of healthy food, local products, and

regional plates as well as international plates. It can be concluded that some of

them can be developed in such way that the service and satisfaction is

guaranteed because it offers a special menu and a high quality services to the

foreign and national visitor.

2.1.5.4 Tourist transportation

Another aspect that is important is the transportation, because all the time

people need something in which they can move from one place, to another. La

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transportacin turstica proporciona el servicio que facilita el desplazamiento

turstico, al hacer posible el viaje de ida y vuelta, a la vez los traslados

subsidiarios durante ese lapso. (Instituto Mexicano de Investigaciones

Tursticas, and Teora General de Turismo. (2a Edicin) Manuel Ramrez Blanco.

Ed. Diana. Octubre, 1992, p. 101). In other words, the tourist transportation gives

the services of transportation to the visitor, makes possible to go around in a trip

during a period of time any motion means, by which. For this reason there are

certain types of transportation such as Air transport; the IATA and OACI are the

two main air associations that helped to develop more the use of this service.

Nowadays the aerial transportation is the fastest and easiest way to travel

and the flights can be domestic or international. Another one is the ground

transportation, basically this transportation is provided by cars, taxis, street cars,

trains, buses or omnibuses. In addition, the transportation used by the tourist can

be by private providers or by rental. This line of service is totally tourist and can

be domestic and foreign visitors. Finally there is the nautical transport; the

maritime transportation has been producing new luxurious ships. This sort of

transportation is provide this service are ferry-boats, car-ferry, hydrofoil and

hovercraft and those cross seas, oceans, lakes and rivers(Ramirez, 1992 p. 101

to 108). As a conclusion, transportation and tourism are basically joined. In

addition, it is very important to consider transportation in trips because it is the

means in which the tourist can move from one place to another.

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Destinations

This next section deals with the actual available Information about the two

destinations this research is focused on. In the first section Rabat was introduced

as a destination that still unknown for most of the Mexican tourist. The information

presented would make them realize that Rabat opens the door to new adventures

and fascinating and colorful places. From North to South, east to west Rabat is

alive with attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. In addition to visit Rabat

is to venture into a present full of natural and cultural attractions, many of them

unique in the world; the information of a glorious past whose vestiges remains as

silent witnesses to the singular story of Rabat civilization. On the other hand,

Paris was presented as a well recognized place for most of the Mexican tourist.

This section deals with all the necessary data to learn everything about one of the

most visited capitals of the world. In addition, the main objective of this thesis

research is to give proper information about the two destinations.

2.2 Rabat

This place, worthy of visitation, is located in the African Continent and on

the Atlantic Ocean. The city was found about the 10th century. The name was

derived from Ribat al-Fath: it means the camp of victory (Howstaffworks, 2008,

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URL).Something to be mentioned is that Rabat is a country of warm and friendly

people who greet you with open arms and is a beautiful and hospitable place.

Also the city is modern and even reserved by the Moroccan. Morocco has been

influenced by some civilizations as the tribes Berber and Almohades for the 300

year. In addition, in the year 647, the conquests began with the Arabs and Islam

awakening, but the dynasty of the conquered Berberes and the Almohades

dominated all the Arabs (National Tourist Office of Morocco, 2008 URL). For this

reason Rabat can be considered modern and reserved by Moroccan standards;

and also the city has the greatest archeological treasures including many

fascinating historic sites as well. As a conclusion, this place has richness such as

culture, art and architecture.

2.2.1 Language in Rabat

Rabat is a very multicultural country for the varied historical influences on

the people of Morocco, for this reason there is a large variety of languages

spoken throughout the country. According to ISESCO, (2009) said that there are

many languages that still present and those are Arabic, French, Spanish, and

English. Arabic is the official language spoken in Morocco and its influence of

Arabic has been important in the Islamic countries. In addition, the Arabic is

related to and classified alongside other semantic languages such as Hebrew and

Aramaic. In other words, Arabic is spoken by more than 280 million people as a

first language. Something to be mentioned is that fortunately for most of the

Moroccans are capable of speaking more than just one of their native languages.

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Equally important, French is not seen as an indigenous language in Morocco,

although at least half of the population. This is due to the strong French influence

during the period from 1912 to 1956, which has also left a large amount of French

architecture in parts of Morocco (ISESCO, 2009). For this reason, French is the

second language spoken widely used throughout the Islamic world due to the

important relationship with France. In addition, over 20,000 people in Morocco

speak Spanish; given that, it is a short distance away of Spain, also acted as a

protectorate of Morocco for a while after 1912, for this reason Spanish has been

influenced by the culture. Finally English is another language spoken as well in

the country. Therefore, it can be concluded that Rabat has different ways of the

various languages spoken that can greatly enhance your experiences in the

country. This means you should be able to get by in most parts of the country

quite easily without even trying very hard.

2.2.2 Tourism in Rabat

Tourism in Rabat is firstly a bridge between people and civilization including

cultures and its nature. As a consequence, this city opens the modernity with clean

and responsible tourism. In addition, the king Mohammed VI has made tourism one

of the nation priorities with clear focus tourism (National Tourism Office in Morocco,

2008 URL). For this reason, in 2001 the tourism in Morocco gave 3,500 km. of

virgin cost from the Atlantic Ocean to Mediterranean in order to increase the

tourism in the region. After that, a new project called vision 2010 emerges with

the objective of improving the tourism in one way key in order to develop the

country in terms of capturing more tourism. The tourism was based in the low level

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cultural that included the traditional routes as Marrakech, Fez, Meknes (called

imperial cities) all this was combined with a specific tourism of venture on the

desert and the south oasis and around the Atlas. However, this project has

improved the tourism considerable since 2001.

According to the Minister of tourism of Morocco (2007 p. 73) said that, in

2006 where a total 6.500.000 people that visited this country; that means that 12

per 100 increase compared to last year. On the other hand, World Tourism

Barometer (2008 URL) says that, since that project, the Moroccan tourism has

been increasing in a short period of time. In addition, the tourism came basically

from Europe with 1, 48 millions of visitants that are Frenchmen, and then the

Spanish with 468.00.00 visitants and also the British with 266.00 visitants and all

this tourism was significant in 2006 according to the Minister of tourism of Morocco

(2007 p. 73). In conclusion, tourism has increased with the time.

2.2.3 Attractions in Rabat

Rabat has its own attractions as many other famous countries. Let your

imagination run wild because the options are varied and exciting. Everything is

easy to get to, and its all within the boundaries of the exciting region. Rabat has

many places and things to do, but the wrong and bad promotion about the beauty

of the place makes all this information poor and unattractive to the tourist.23


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However, if you do not want to go on your own, there are several tour companies

providing sightseeing tours and professional guide services.

Rabat Archeological Museum site walk you back through time and history. It

was built in 1932 and enlarged a few years later to display the findings resulting

from intense archaeological research. This museum has housed the National

Museum collections since 1986 and is one of the richest in Morocco. Another site is

the Bab Rouah or "Gate of the Winds. This is the name of one of the five gates in

the Almohad wall. It has now been converted into an exhibition center. Another site

is the Bou Regreg Dam. It has a wind surface and those who prefer to have a

picnic can share the same waters and shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou

Regreg dam. Equally important we have Chellah Necropolis historical place

permeate the landscape, mixing the ancient Rabat world with todays natural

beauty. It was built between the 13th and 14th centuries on the ruins of the ancient

Roman town. Another significant site is the Costume Museum in Rabat that tells

the history of Morocco through the garments and traditional jewelry of the various

regions of the kingdom. Another archeological site is the Royal Palace. This

construction began in 1864, is surrounded by a wall cut by three gates inside the

various buildings, with open spaces known as the Mechouar, which holds the Ahl-

Fas mosque where the King leads prayers on Fridays. As well important is the

Oudaias Kasbah, this construction was built here to protect the Oudaias in the 18 th

century, and it affords a fine view over the ocean. Lastly we have the Museum of

Moroccan Arts; a house was built between the walls of the former residence of

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Moulay Ismail. The custodians have tried to reconstruct all the accessories which

make up the decoration of a typical Moroccan house. Finally we have the Hassan

Tower Mausoleum. In this place the King Mohamed V. It is in this very place where

the late Mohamed V, returning from exile, gathered thousands of Moroccans to

thank God for giving independence to his country. In addition, Mohamed V

mausoleum was built in 1956. It can be concluded that Rabat has formidable

archaeological zones in which it can admired the temples and the shrines that this

amazing place offers.

2.2.4 Events

In Rabat you can find many spectacles of nightlife as soothing fantasy,

exotic music and dancing music over the street, shows with cobras and all kind of

snakes. Wherever you travel in Morocco you are guaranteed to hear music. It is a

basic expression of the countrys folk culture. Besides that, the traditional

Moroccan music is an important part of everyday life, and evident at every

celebration such as marriages, funerals, religion gatherings and of course festivals.

According to Tourism of Morocco, (2009) ancient Moroccan music can be

found in the mountainous region and it is performed within the Berber village, there

mysterious music and festivals are celebrated each year and are best represented

by poetry and dances. In other words, the folklore dances are magnificent and give

peace to the life of the tribes. The Timitar Festival is the leading celebration of

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amazing culture and world music in the Souss Massa Draa name received by the

strong Arabic classical tradition. Another one is the Sufi Music unique to Islam

which elicits a trancelike state which inspires mystical ecstasy. Another one is the

Gnaoua music festival; this is very famous for the extravaganza featuring art

exhibitions and Gnaoua style music. Another important festival is the Imilchil

Marriage. This is a legendary festival that is homage to love and is celebrated by

the Berber tradition. Also it is important to mention the Ramadan that represents an

ancient Islamic holiday whereby Muslims fast during daylight hours for thirty days.

Equally important is the Roses festival-el Kelaa de Mgouna a Berber music,

singing, and dancing. Finally we have the Paris-Dakar Rally; this is the most

famous international car race that crosses the Sahara Desert. In this event came

people from Spain, Rumania, Germany, and Italy among others (Visit Morocco,

2009 URL). It can be concluded that the experience for yourself in Rabat shall

make you think back trough the time, appreciating all the beautiful festivals and

unique history that Rabat can offer.

2.2.4.1 Shopping

Shopping in Rabat is a unique and exciting experience for all the visitors.

Like all big cities Rabat, has exquisite and precious arts and crafts that you will find

in chic boutiques and modern shopping centers. Souk is the name that receives a

market in an Arab country and is the major feature in Moroccan life and it is among

the countries greatest attractions. The shopping starts on Consult Street in the

medina and Mohammed V Avenue. In this place you can find art, craft and

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jewellery; this place is also famous for all the rugs. The traditional rug of Rabat is

fine with short, often red wool, with a medallion in the shape of a diamond in the

center (Visit Morocco, 2009 URL). Also, you will find some other things that you

can buy as remarkable things about Rabat with tradition and modernity. Some of

the best buy in Rabat are leather ware, handicrafts, carpets, pottery, wood

carvings, traditional garments and various food products. One of the largest shop

centers in the whole African Continent is the recently opened center located in

Rabat called The Mega Mall in Rabat. This mall offers many clothing stores for

children, teenagers and adults. There also is a large range of domestic and foreign

products and known brands such as Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, Gas Jeans, Versace

Gallery, among others. So it can be concluded, both Souks and Shop center are

also a daily destination for locals and foreign visitors. In addition, these shops have

a wide variety of items. In other words, visiting a Souk is a cultural experience that

should not be missed on your trip to Rabat.

2.2.4.2 Gastronomy

Dining in Rabat is a great food experience because you will enjoy many

dishes with a magnificent taste. Rabat cuisine is the culinary star of North Africa

and it is hard to decide what to eat and where to go because the imperial and trade

influence has been filtered and blended into the culture. Being the mixed of many

civilizations, the cuisine of Rabat is a mlange of Arab, Berber, Moorish, French,

Middle Eastern, Mediterranean African, Iberian and Jewish influences. Rabat

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cooking is enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh as apricots, raisins; among others.

Nuts are also prominent as pine nuts, almonds and pistachios. Menus reflect the

local African and Rabat cultures, using basic ingredients such as chicken, beef,

pork, rice and beans. For this reason, there are some dishes that are the famous

such as Couscous, the national dish of Morocco, eaten on Fridays, at weddings,

funerals, and on Ramadan. Equally important is the Tajine, a classic dish prepared

in an earthenware pot that combines meat, fruits and spices. Another plate is the

breads of barley and semolina which are made by women in earthen ovens.

Another dish is the Deserts and Pastries; those are sweets and are made with

nuts, honey and cinnamon in all shapes, sizes and textures. Another one is the

fruits and Nuts, these are a soft sweet fruit that is full of small seeds and is often

eaten dried. Anotherone is the walnut and dates trees that produce natural sweets

used in cooking, Spices are essential to Rabat cooking and known for their

medicinal value. Finally the Mint Tea, this tee is the national Moroccan drink and is

offerin homes, markets and at celebrations. In general, the gastronomy in Rabat is

a way of life and its great food that offers this place is unique in the World.

2.2.5 Accommodation in Rabat

Rabat is a country where people can find many accommodation places that

are cheaper than others. When it comes to selecting a place to visit, bigger is not

always better. Small hotels, villas, inns and others have their own special allure

and people can find them easily. For this reason, its important to mention the

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most representative hotels such as The Ibis Moussafir hotel located in Rabat.

This hotel is one of the hotels that are aimed at clients in search of clean and

basic accommodation. The building is traditional and located in a quiet area. Even

when the rooms are a bit small, it has a full comfort with all you need and air

conditioning and the bathrooms are clean and in good condition. Another one is

the Mercure Rabat Sheherazade. This hotel is a perfect option for any traveler for

its location, quality and price. The exterior is a modern building and it provides

basic accommodation that consists of a room with a bed, a small table, a

cupboard, and a bathroom. It has 81 rooms, fully fitted and nicely decorated. The

bathrooms are medium-sized and have all the comfort. Equally important is the

Hotel Sofitel Diwan Rabat, Located in the heart of the city in the embassy and

government area, Sofitel Diwan Rabat is near the Royal Palace, Mausoleum

Hassan II and the airport. The hotel has 88 rooms, 6 suites and meeting rooms.

Finally there is the Hilton Rabat Hotel, situated in a prestigious area; the Hilton

Rabat Hotel is an oasis of relaxation and pleasure and also it strives in giving an

excellent service and for making you feel unique.

On one hand, the large resorts are nice and can be grandiose, but that

does not guarantee a better service, tastier food or anything else; and on the

other, small boutique-style hotels and resorts are excellent options because they

offer several unique advantages to travelers; which comprise many advantages

such as: variety, location, ambiences and price; all primary considerations when

planning a vocation. Also, this part of Africa is rich with historical sites and packed

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when exchanging money during your trip in Rabat.

2.3 Paris

Paris is in the European Continent and is the most beautiful city around the

world, but also one of the most expensive. Paris, capital and largest city of

France, is situated in the North of it along River Seine. It is also the center of the

metropolitan area known as the ile-de- France region. This region is also the

main engine of the economy of France, concentrating most of the countrys

services such as banking and finance. According to The New Grolier Multimedia

Encyclopedia, (1996) said that, Paris was born as a small village in the island of

the city. In other words, it is an island in the Seine that is now the heart of the city

which was built by the Celtic people called the Parissi. On the other hand, we

have Chelminski, (1977) said that, in the year 52 BC it was conquered by the

Romans and subsequently expanded to the Seine and founded the city of Lutetia,

later called Paris. Both give a brief explanation of the origins of Paris. In other

words it can be said that the roots of the name Paris derive from that of its pre-

Roman-era inhabitants.

Paris has many nicknames, but its most famous is "The City of Lights".

Something to be mentioned is that Paris is considered an artistic and romantic

city by the natives as well as by the people of the world. Besides, Paris is

currently one of the main economic, political, cultural and artistic centers of the

world; in fact, France is said to be the largest metropolitan in the European Union.

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It can be concluded that through the centuries, Paris has been changed.

Therefore, to know exactly the meaning of Paris it is necessary to know its

etymological roots.

2.3.1 Language in Paris

The official language spoken in France is French. However, France has

rich and diverse influences, and so there are several languages being spoken in

different regions of the country. In addition, French is also spoken in Belgium and

Switzerland and those former French colonies including Guiana, Northwestern,

Africa, Indonesia, Haiti, Madagascar and parts of Canada,( Le Tourisme a Paris:

Cliffres cles 2007) . Moreover, there are several other languages spoken by

immigrants who form a substantial percentage of the French population.

According to Language Report of the French Government, (1999) said that,

the official language of France is French and it reflects the history of these people

in various regions of France. Also, its roots derived from the Roman language and

its spoken by about 77 million people as a mother tongue. On the other hand,

The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, (1996) says that French is a group of

languages known as Romance languages that include Italian, Spanish,

Portuguese and Rumania, because they are descendant from Latin; the language

of the ancient Roman Empire. In a word, both definitions are similar. For this

reason, to know exactly the roots of French, it is necessary to know its

etymological root. It is important to mention that French language has variations

not only in terms of chronological development, but also in terms of geographical

location.

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2.3.2 Tourism in Paris

It is important to mention that Paris is the worlds leading tourist destination.

The strategic and convenient location of Paris makes it very easy for travelers to

reach the city. According to Office du Tourisme et des Congrs de Paris, (2007)

said that, more than half of all Paris' visitors, 55%, come from foreign countries

such as United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan. In other

words, Paris is considered one of the top world cities. On the other hand, The

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO: World Tourism, V 5. No. 2, 2007), says that

Paris has an average of annual arrivals of 75% each year. It means that in 2007

has increased the tourist activity. It can be mentioned that the types of tourism that

can be practiced in Paris are many, but some of the most important are

gastronomic, monumental and business tourism as principal ones. Gastronomic

tourism not only involves tasting food but also to get into the culture. For this

reason France is the top location in regards to this type of tourism, since its

gastronomy has been among the best in the world. Some of the most prestigious

varieties are wine, cheese and champagnes, not forgetting bakery. This way, tourist

people can try and at the same time get a big idea about what Parisian food

involves because when we talk about food, it is important to know that is a great

passion of French people. They are very careful with their cooking, which is

recognized as highly refined with many details in the preparation (yoteca, 2009).

On the other hand, we have monumental tourism which can be described as the

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type of tourism that is practiced in a place where there are many monuments or

historic buildings. In Paris, this type of tourism exists too, and as a main example,

the Eiffel Tower (Paris info, 2009 URL). In addition, one of the most important types

of tourism is business tourism, because Paris is the world's first city to hold

conferences and that is the reason why it is known as the capital of business

tourism (Office du Tourisme et des Congrs de Paris, 2009). In conclusion, tourism

has increased with the time.

2.3.3 Attractions in Paris

Paris is one of the most spectacular sightseeing cities in the world

containing a wealth of the city and culture. In addition, Paris has many monuments

to visit, but the most famous and known is the Eiffel Tower; which was built for the

world Exhibition in 1889. The tower stands tall at over 1000 feet and offers

spectacular views of the surrounding landscape from its observation decks. In

addition, the tower represents the celebration of the French revolution in 1789.

Another important site is the Arc de Triumph; it was originally commissioned by

Napoleon in 1806 in order to commemorate his victories. The construction of D Arc

de Triumph was completed until 1836 and it is engraved with names of the

generals who commanded French troops during Napoleons regime. Equally

important is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is the most famous of all cathedrals in

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the entire world. The Gothic architecture is located on the ile-de- Paris, a small

island in the heart of the city. The Notre Dame began its construction in 1163. It

received the name of Gothic architecture because it reflects Paris status as the

capital of the kingdom of France. Finally, the Le Louvre is today the originally place

that nowadays is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The

construction was built in 1989 by the renowned architect I.M. Pei. Something to be

mentioned is that it contains some of the most famous pieces of art including Da

Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo (descubreparis, 2009). In sum, Paris has

many other places to visit. In addition, Paris has formidable museums in which

great examples of art and architecture can be admired in such premises.

2.3.4 Events

The events in Paris can be an amazing and unforgettable experience;

however, it can be also very expensive and stressful. The late nights in Paris mean

a variety of music, from clubs featuring live music, to festivals to special events.

Paris has an important cultural center of Europe since the medieval ages. This city

has contributed significantly to the development of art including dances and music.

In addition, streets are alive with a very rich and varied dance tradition and also ,

almost every region of France has its own distinct forms of music and dances. On

one hand, the most popular is the folk and is the traditional folk dance that is well

preserved in several regions in south France. On the other hand, there are other

dances such as Waltz Polka, Mazurka, Marche, Scottish, Rondeau and Bourree;

among others. Besides that, cabaret avenues deliver a dose of vibrant

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entertainment, as well as the Relax bar cafes, high tech dance clubs and the

famous mellow jazz. Equally important, are some spectacles of highlights as Live

Music, Le Bilboqet, Contemporary jazz, Chesterfield Caf, Palais des Congrs,

and Rock concerts. Finally, the music is another important aspect that has

contributed a lot to the development of modern western music, including jazz music

that still is very popular in Paris (office du Tourisme de Paris, 2009). To summarize,

the City of Lights is a place that has many events that offers you in the whole year.

In addition, Paris has something for everyone such as discos, nightclubs, bars and

other similar sites, in order to attract the people that are looking forward to having a

good time and enjoy the night.

2.3.4.1 Shopping

Paris is a perfect place for shopping. It is easy to find top quality shoes,

bags and leather goods. As a consequence, Paris is well-known in many famous

brands such as Cartier, Celine, Chanel, Chaumet, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix,

Piaget, Yves Saint Laurent , and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others. For this reason

there are two famous rivals, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. They are carrying

designer, brand name and private label of goods. Another important shop in Paris

is the Flea Markets. These markets are the most renowned places to find treasures

and good price in Paris. There are also three main flea markets that date back

hundreds of years, situated around the old gates of the city. The origin of the name

refers to the cast-off clothes of royalty which were commonplace centuries ago;

teeming with the little insects. Equally important is a place called ``bookworms``. In

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this place is very easy to find a wide variety of books and those are somewhat

expensive, particularly foreign books. In a word, Paris shops are an integral part of

the citys cultural identity, and make it the ultimate destination for the discerning

consumer.

2.3.4.2 Gastronomy

Paris is worldwide known for its varieties of wine and cuisine. The cuisine in

Paris is considered as one of worlds most elegant and refined cuisines with

different styles, which include both the classical (haute cuisine) and the provincial

style. Each region has been able to keep its specialties such as Alsatian

sauerkraut, the cassoulet of basque region, sauted pork morsels of Touraine, the

andouillette of Troyes, the tourte ardennaise etc. All those dishes are recognized

and are popular in all France and all over the world. In addition to this, cooking is a

very important part of the French culture, given the fact that it possesses an

incredible diversity of products in the traditional recipes. Besides, Paris produces

over 400 varieties of cheese made from the milk of goats, cows, and ewes and

Parisians love to make and eat a good variety of bread, including celebrated

baguette. Moreover, the cuisine style has influenced almost all western ones, as

well as other forms of western cooking.

Something to be mentioned is that France is the country of wine; has the

best wines in the entire world. Furthermore, France is the second country that

produces wine after Italy. In addition, the wine production is an ancestral tradition,

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which goes back to ages. In other words, in ancient times, wine was considered as

a gift from the gods. It means that is the best wine because of the diversity of

weather conditions that help the production of wine (come to France, 1999-2003).

In conclusion, the gastronomy in Paris offers a great food and wine that is unique

in the World. In order to discover wine and food travelling and discovering French

culture is the only way to do so.

2.3.5 Accommodation in Paris

Paris offers a wide variety of accommodations, including a large hotel

capacity, apart-hotels, youth accommodation and campsites. Paris hotels tend to

be more inexpensive than those in their boundaries such as Italy, Switzerland and

Germany. There usually are hotels near train stations, some for low budgets, and

other are a little seedy. You can inspect a room before committing to it. You can

also fine cheap motel lodging outside of major tourist destinations. Something to be

mentioned is that the Hotels in Paris are related by stars according to the

government regulation and not necessarily for their facilities and their charms.

According to Office du Tourisme in Paris, (2008) the government hotel

rating system is by number of stars and those can be from one star through five

stars. In other words, the one star being the simplest hotels (it means the hotel

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facilities such as small size of rooms, with or without a bath, without elevator and

other updated features). The five stars being the most luxurious hotels, (it means

with all facilities such as swimming pool, parking, meal, beverages, entertainment,

banquets, convention, and meeting facilities). In general the types of

accommodation can be chosen according to the necessities of the tourist.

2.3.6 Currency Exchange

The official currency of France was the Franc, but in the year 1360. The

name franc was derived from the Latin roots, which means king of the Franc in

honor of King John II. At that time, the Franc was actually a gold coin. This coin

was weighed about 3.87 grams. In addition, the Franc was the official Currency of

France from the year 1360 until 1641. Something important to be mentioned has

to do with the colonies of the French Empire, such as Cambodia and Algeria used

Franc as their currency. Also, Monaco and Andorra used the currency as a legal

tender (the Franc was divided into 100 centimes). After that, the use of Franc was

substituted by the Euro (International Exchange rates, 2008).This currency can

be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some large hotels. In addition,

some visitors get a better exchange rate at any ATMs. The rate of exchange is

subject to fluctuation and purchases are made in Euros, credit cards, and debit

cards or travelers checks. Most of the credit cards are widely accepted at hotels

and resorts. On the other hand, the travelers checks are accepted in most of

retail stores, restaurants and bars and particularly in most of the tourist

destinations.

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CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

In this chapter, the methodology and the instruments used to obtain

information are presented. Restating that the main objective was to find data that

allow to evaluate the options and preferences Mexican tourist contemplate before

choosing a destination. Two instruments were used in order to obtain the

necessary information: a Power Point presentation that gives information about

Rabat and a questionnaire to evaluate the perspectives after knowing the preview

of the place. The chapter also describes the participants and procedures followed

to analyze data obtained both from the presentation and the questionnaire.

3.1 Research Design

In this research were used both, qualitative and quantitative approaches;

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mixed methods of research, because of the kind of information required was

related to measuring and describing the various aspects of the problem with the

intention of connecting data from one phase to another. However the concept of a

qualitative research is here explained in order to have a better comprehension of

the research design. According to John W. Creswell (2007) this line of

investigation, is the one which gives narrative registers with techniques such as

observation and interview: In his own words Qualitative research is a means for

exploring and understanding, the meaning individual or groups ascribed to a social

or human problem.(Page4). The process of research under this approach involves

emerging questions and procedures and data is typically collected in the

participants setting. The principal objectives of this type of research are to find out

the reasons and a logic procedure; not only how many, in which place or when of a

given situation. A qualitative research does not get results with numbers or

statistics but results are gotten from the analysis of the needs and the adaptation of

existing material.

On the other hand, the quantitative research includes means for testing

objectives or theories by examining the relationship among the variables.

According to W. Creswell, (2007)those variables can be measured on instruments

so that, the data can be in depth analyzed using statistics procedures In this

scenario, the researcher tests a theory by specifying narrow hypothesis and the

collection of data to support or refuse the hypothesis. An experimental design is

used in which attitudes are assessed both before and after experimental treatment.

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The data are collected on an instrument that measured attitude (Page 4).

Likewise this research took results from logical reasons and procedures. There are

subjects in this research that were not taken as statistics but they were used to get

results in the real time and place.

3.2 Participants

The participants chosen for this thesis research were from Universidad

Madero located in San Andres Cholula, Puebla. It were considered twenty students

who are currently studying a B.A. in Foreign Languages, and they were studying

their 7th semester in 2009. The students age average ranged from 19 to 22 years

old and those are from different minor (Enterprises management, International

Commerce and Translation and Interpretation). An essential datum is that, from

those twenty nine students nineteen of them were men and ten were women. All of

them are students of an intermediate level of spoken English, French and German.

The questionnaire and the presentation were in English because they are

pupils of Foreign Languages and the main purpose for this project was to know if

they would visit Rabat if they had the opportunity to travel overseas. The obtained

results were valid only with these participants. Something to be mentioned is that

Universidad Madero has the international exchange programs department. In this

department the students are able to obtain all the information and help that they

require if they want to travel overseas. So that, students are able to travel abroad

and this research would help them to choose a good option.

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3.3 Instruments

In order to gather information for this project a questionnaire and a Power

Point presentation were used as an instrument. The questionnaire had 10

questions with multiple choice answers and close-ended questions in order to

obtain data from the interviewees. The most important purpose to be considered

was to know if the Mexican Tourists were interested in visiting Rabat as a worthy

place. The second instrument is a power point presentation that was used to

provide information about Rabat with the objective of clarifying the background

about the place that the Mexican Tourists have. It has thirteen slides with text and

images of the place. It took fifteen minutes to present it, and it considered that this

would help the tourists during their trip.

3.4 Procedure

The procedure that was followed in this project had few steps. The first part

was considered a questionnaire with six questions with general information. Before

beginning this project, my tasks were to find out why Mexican tourists would

choose one place instead of Rabat as a worthy place to visit. This process was

made by evaluating some books and magazines that provided information about

Rabat. The second step was to show them the presentation with important

information about Rabat. The last step was done by applying the first questionnaire

and adding four more questions focused on the presentation about Rabat in order

to see if their perspective changed or not after the information was presented.

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In the step 1 it was needed to evaluate the reasons that they had when they

want to travel overseas. Students were asked to answer the questionnaire in the

most complete and sincere possible way. The questionnaire and the presentation

were deeply analyzed to obtain the data and important aspects that students would

probably take into account to choose one place instead of the other.

3.5 Data Analysis

The information obtained from the questionnaire was processed by doing an

analysis of each answered question. All this information was significant for this

thesis study; nevertheless, it was given priority to the questions referred to the

preferences that students considered when they choose a place to visit. The

presentation was analyzed in two ways; the first one shows the analysis by their

aspects taking advantages and disadvantages of the place. Then, the second

analysis was made by taking the reason that they had considered before choosing

a place. In order to obtain the results some graphics in the quantitative way were

used. All those elements helped to verify if the hypothesis in this research was

correct or not and accomplish the aforementioned objectives.

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Arturo Calleja

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Transcript of Arturo Calleja