We should expect fewer tourists in Marrakech for the months of July and August, experts estimate. First, parents and students are still waiting for registrations or baccalaureate catch-up results and have not yet planned their vacations. In addition, social tensions following the boycott have their repercussions.
Finally, Moroccans living abroad may also not be numerous. Indeed, the young generation, accustomed to spending their vacations in Marrakech hotels, preferred this year to travel to Russia, among other places, to support the national football team. This segment previously represented up to 30% of arrivals during the summer season. And then, the Marrakech product becomes more expensive.
A cultural stay of 8 days and 7 nights is more expensive in the ocher city than in Luxor and Istanbul. Tour operators are starting to complain about this and are planning meetings with all the members of the Regional Tourism Council to discuss prices and raise hoteliers’ awareness of the problem.
Last year, a ranking by the British daily The Guardian of the ten most expensive vacation destinations in the world placed the ocher city in fourth place, ahead of Singapore, London and Sydney. To establish its ranking, the British newspaper calculates the cost of a day and night spent in the most popular destinations with tourists, according to six price criteria (a three-kilometer taxi ride, a night in a hotel for one person, a meal for one person, a pint of beer, a cup of coffee and a bottle of wine).
In addition to hotel services which are on the rise, there is air travel which also increases its prices during the summer season. Gone are the days of “hmizates” for Marrakech with cheap flights. And it is difficult, even outside of holiday periods, to find Europe/ochre city tickets for less than 300 euros. And for good reason, demand is greater than supply.
This is what worries travel professionals in Marrakech. “We need more flights and airline seats to fill the city’s capacity,” Marrakech hoteliers often insist. However, 2018 got off to a flying start.
Benefiting from the positive image since COP 22, the tourism sector was in good shape and the city was a hit with all source markets. During the first four months of the year, arrivals at border posts increased by 20%. The main increases came from good progress in tourist arrivals from Spain, France and Scandinavia while resident tourism increased by 14%.
source: leconomiste.com
