Morocco.. “Gladiator 2” Boosts Tourism in “Hollywood of Africa”
British director and producer Ridley Scott has chosen to film scenes for the second part of the famous film “Gladiator” in the city of Ouarzazate (southeast of Morocco), with the participation of a group of international film stars, including Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal.
Ouarzazate attracts international filmmakers due to its large studios, natural landscapes, and cinematic infrastructure, in addition to its sunny weather that provides suitable lighting for filming.
The selection of the city, known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” to shoot this global film has contributed to the creation of hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities in various fields and professions.
Revival of the film industry
Film industry enthusiasts agree that Ouarzazate’s selection for shooting “Gladiator 2” or other films will bring back the glamour to this city, which has always been a major destination for international film production companies. It will also provide a strong boost to the tourism sector, which has suffered greatly due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Idriss Aslafato, a civil actor in the region, says, “Thanks to Gladiator 2, life has returned to ‘Hollywood of Africa’ after we suffered for a long time in Ouarzazate due to the coronavirus crisis.”
Aslafato adds in a statement to “Sky News Arabia,” “This film production has brought smiles back to the city’s residents, and many who had left in search of work and new opportunities in other cities have decided to return to Ouarzazate to join the cast of ‘Gladiator 2’.”
The spokesperson confirms that this massive film project has created at least 4,000 job positions. Many locals joined the “Gladiator 2” crew as extras, while others returned to practicing professions related to the film industry. It also provided an opportunity for students from the film institute in the city to train under a world-class production team.
Global impact
Reports from Ouarzazate reveal that it has become difficult to find hotel rooms since the large crew of “Gladiator 2,” including technicians and artists, arrived. This has significantly contributed to boosting the economy and revitalizing the tourism sector in the city. It has also had a positive impact on restaurants, tourist transportation, and various professions and crafts that have long suffered from stagnation.
In this regard, the activist and tourism expert Zoubir Bouhout believes that a film of the scale of “Gladiator” and the preparations for its shooting since the beginning of this year will play a significant role in tourism and stimulate the economy. It will contribute to reviving many professions and enhancing services related to tourism.
Bouhout says that the presence of actors like Denzel Washington and other international stars in Ouarzazate will give the city even more radiance and attract tourists from all over the world.
The spokesperson explains that the timing of the film crew’s arrival in Ouarzazate coincided with the period of organizing the Desert Marathon, in which 1,600 people participated. This created significant pressure on hotels, with demand exceeding supply.
Bouhout emphasizes that the intensive return of international tourists and the attraction of major film producers to Ouarzazate should be accompanied by efforts to enhance the city’s tourism infrastructure, especially since some of the hotels had to close their doors due to the COVID-19 crisis.
African Hollywood
Morocco has become a destination for global filmmakers, with foreign film production revenues reaching 667 million dirhams in 2019, and Ouarzazate accounting for about half of these revenues.
The film “Lawrence of Arabia” directed by British filmmaker David Lean, which was shot in Ouar.
