Eligibility criteria
Company founders
The assistance program for the creation of tourism SMEs offers specialized technical support to guarantee the performance and economic sustainability of projects. Thanks to the expertise of recognized professionals, entrepreneurs benefit from state-of-the-art assistance. In addition, financial assistance such as grants or investment bonuses covering from 10% to 50% of the total investment amount are also available.
Eligibility requirements for business start-ups are as follows:
- The applicant is a natural or legal person wishing to set up a VSE-SME business of one of the above sizes;
- The new TPMET will be based in the Souss Massa region. The TPMET will be favored in the evaluation, if it is located in one of the tourist areas designated as "priority ecosystems" by the program (predefined below in 2.2);
- The TPMET will come from one or more of the following sectors: accommodation, catering, entertainment and leisure, sport and well-being.
- Candidates should preferably have professional experience or, failing that, a vocation for tourism, or professional expertise certification (in the case of certain specific sectors such as climbing, caving, scuba diving, etc.).
- The legal entity applicant may be a company in the process of being set up, or a company that has been in business for less than a year. Projects from the entertainment and leisure sectors, as well as those of an innovative nature, will be given priority in the selection process, given that the main objective of the program is to enrich the entertainment offering of the regional destination of Agadir Souss Massa.
Tourism sectors concerned
- Accommodation ;
- Catering ;
- Animation ;
- Sport & well-being.
Existing tourism SMEs (transformation program)
The aim of this transformation program is to modernize the company and strengthen its competitiveness to achieve a level of operational excellence. This involves actions such as modernizing operating tools, carrying out technical studies to optimize performance, setting up specific training programs, developing employee skills and improving the company’s offering, among others.
With this in mind, SDR TPMET offers the support of recognized experts to guide you from the diagnostic stage right through to the concrete implementation of the transformation.
What’s more, at the end of this support program, you may be eligible for financial support in the form of a grant to put your company’s improvement initiatives into practice.
Tourism businesses wishing to carry out a transformation program must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- VSE-SME company of one of the above sizes;
- Located in the geographical area of the Souss Massa Region, particularly those situated in one of the tourist areas designated as "priority ecosystems" by the program (predefined above in 2.2);
- Proof of permanent or discontinuous operation for at least one year;
- From the following sectors: accommodation, catering, travel agencies, tourist transport, guiding, entertainment and leisure, sport and well-being;
- Authorized and/or classified and legal;
- Not subject to receivership or liquidation proceedings.
Tourism sectors concerned
- Accommodation ;
- Catering ;
- Tourist transport ;
- Travel agency ;
- Guiding ;
- Animation ;
- Sport & well-being.
Geographical criteria
The team at S.M.A.R.T. Tourisme team is dedicated to supporting project initiators, investors and tourism company directors already present or planning to set up in the Souss Massa region.
Administrative criteria
- Be an authorized and classified establishment;
- Be in operation, continuously or discontinuously, for at least one year;
- Be in good standing with the tax authorities and the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS);
- Be an establishment that is not in receivership or liquidation.
Types of companies supported :
- Very Small Enterprises with an investment of up to 3 million dirhams (VSE);
- Small businesses with an investment of more than 3 million dirhams and less than or equal to 10 million dirhams (PE);
- Medium-sized companies with investment funds of more than MAD 10 million and less than or equal to MAD 30 million (ME).
Beneficiaries of the support program must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Legal entities must have been active in the tourism sector for at least two years;
- Independent contractors must have 5 years' experience in one of the program's fields (entertainment, tourist accommodation, travel agency, tourist catering, tourist guiding, tourist transport);
- Individuals must have completed higher education (at least Bac +2) and/or have professional experience in one of the above-mentioned sectors, or have a certificate of professional aptitude for a sporting activity, for example;
- Project sponsors (legal entities or individuals) must be able to self-finance at least 20% of the project's total investment in order to demonstrate their commitment to the success of their project.
Priority will be given to establishments with a sustainable development approach.
Priority tourism sectors and ecosystems
The tourism sectors and activities concerned as well as the priority ecosystems are as follows:
| Tourism Sectors | Tourism Activities | Agadir | Taghazout | Souss Massa Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Thematic alternative accommodation structures and other classified conventional accommodations | |||
| Events | Sound & light shows, Various night animations | |||
| Water Activities | Water sports clubs (catamarans, surfing, sailing, diving, etc.) | |||
| Leisure & Other Forms of Animation | Adventure parks, Amusement parks, Musical beach, etc. | |||
| Sporting Tourism Activities | Beach volleyball, football, beach club, etc. | |||
| Dining | Literary café, Authentic restaurant, Dinner cruise, etc. | |||
| Wellness | SPA, aquafitness, yoga, meditation, etc. | |||
| Travel Agency | Digital kiosks for marketing tourist circuits | |||
| Air Transport | Agadir International Airport, Nearby airports | |||
| Transport and Mobility | Regular transport network to nearby tourist sites | |||
| Cultural Heritage | Museums, Historical sites, Festivals, etc. |
Projects from the entertainment and leisure sectors as well as those with an innovative character will be given priority in the selection process given that the main objective of the program is to enrich the entertainment offer of the regional destination of Agadir Souss Massa.