The plan hopes to transform Tangier into a leading yachting marina in the Mediterranean. Many changes are expected to give back to Tangier a leading place among Mediterranean cities by 2011.
"This major project, which will begin construction in 2011 - will make the port of Tangier and its bay one of the first marinas and cruise destinations in the Mediterranean," said President of the tangier port development & conversion society, Abdelouafi Laftit, in a statement to AFP.
Among other new developments, the new port will accommodate bigger cruise ships and pleasure boats. Mr. Laftit also said that additional space will be available for hotels and other tourism activities in an effort to promote new services in the port area. A space will be dedicated to sea fishing, which is currently one of most dynamic activities in the port.
Also, a residential development will be developed in the current vicinity, in addition, a new space will be dedicated to " leisure and cultural activities, which will hopefully restore to the city of Tangier its pioneering role in the cultural field, and reflect positively on Morocco" added Mr. Laftit.
The traditional summer crossover by Moroccans residing in Europe will cease to be done through the port city of Tangier, but through the new Tanger-Med Port. The transfer of maritime links from Tangier the city port to the new Tanger-Med terminal will be phased from April through October 2010. Construction at the city port meanwhile will begin before the end of 2011, according to local authorities.
With the opening of new passenger terminal, next April, at the newer and larger Tanger-Med port, located twenty kilometers to the east, that will be able to handle the crush of passenger coming and going to Southern Europe, and an earlier transfer of all large transport truck away from the city, a new opportunity is at hand to transform not only the port but also the city of Tangier into a more leisurely, clean and cultured city that will be able to attract more visitors from Europe and elsewhere.