Dopady turismu a lifestylové migrace na partnerské vztahy v marockém Taghazoutu
The Impacts of Tourism, Surfing and Lifestyle Migration on Partner Relationships in Taghazout, Morocco

Summary/Abstract: This article is based on my research conducted for the purposes of my thesis in the Moroccan municipality Taghazout. I observed the causes and impacts of important changes as a consequence of (sports) tourism and lifestyle migration. A small fishing village which bore no traces of tourism back to 2010 became a sought-after destination of surfers from all over the world and a centre for foreign investors, which substantially changed its character.The introductory part of the article presents surfing as a lifestyle sport being the primary cause of changes, and describes its history and the sub-culture that it creates. It also presents the phenomenon of lifestyle migration and sports tourism as closely interlinked issues.The study as such focuses on lifestyle migrants in the village and on the impacts of sports tourism and lifestyle migration on the partner relationships of the local population, as the influx of female tourists and lifestyle migrants has resulted in intercultural partner relationships in spite of the traditions of the rather conservative village known for pre-arranged marriages. The expansion of surfing is accompanied by the appearance of unveiled women in a society that gives preference to their veiling (without obliging them to do so), which results in contradictory reactions by the local population.

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