Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has partnered with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment – the development arm of the Qatar government – to develop two new Anantara-branded resorts in North Africa, both of which are due to open in 2017.

The Anantara Tozeur Resort in the city of Tozeur, southwest of Tunisia, is being developed by Qatari Diar to include 93 bedrooms, a selection of restaurants and bars, business facilities, a health club and a signature Anantara Spa.

This resort is being marketed as an oasis located in the home of the original Star Wars film set. Presumably MHG expects to capitalise on the movie’s tourism trail, however, following the threat of Islamic State (ISIS) to tourists in Tunisia, the UK Foreign Office recently advised against all but essential travel in the Tataouine area – in Libya. It also warned against all travel in the south of Tunisia, where Star Wars fans visit the location that inspired Luke Skywalker’s home planet.

Also being developed by Qatari Diar is the Anantara Al Houara Tangier Resort in northern Morocco. The hotel will be part of the US$600m (€558m, £400m) Al Houara leisure destination project along 2.5km (1.6-miles) of beachfront that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Real estate and infrastructure project management company QPM is leading the development.

The Anantara property will house 230-bedrooms, food and beverage options, a large Anantara Spa, a wellness centre and a gym.

The 578-acre (234-hectare) leisure destination will also have an 18-hole golf course by Graham Marsh Golf Design in collaboration with Vijay Singh, residential homes for sale, a Moroccan spa and a country club.

Kathryn Moore, group director of MSpa in Asia, spoke exclusively to Spa Opportunities – detailing the proposed spas' facilities.

"Both will have full Anantara Spas with signature hammams. The property in Tangier – Anantara Al Houara Tangier Resort – will have a wellness facility aimed at the domestic market, offering a range of services from alternative practitioners, retreats and state-of-the-art facilities," said Moore. "We haven't determined the number of treatment rooms yet for each spa."