Tourism professionals are suffocating in Morocco with the extension of border closures. The country has been completely closed to tourism since November 29 and is expected to remain so at least until January 31.
A situation which undermines the players in this strategic sector for Morocco. Tourism has been at a standstill for almost two years.
The end of the year and the missed meeting with foreign tourists has definitely plunged tourism professionals into deep distress. Many tourist places are closing in the biggest tourist towns in the kingdom, those involved in the profession for years have no other choice but to retrain professionally.
There are numerous stories of hoteliers who have had to close shop to take a job as a driver or at the port in the Moroccan press. Stories told by the French newspaper La Croix which dedicates a report to the tourist agony in Morocco, this Wednesday, December 29. The newspaper recalls that Morocco welcomed 3.4 million tourists in 2021, while in 2019 13 million visited Morocco.
On social networks the hashtag #????_?????? or #ouvrezlesbordières continues to be relayed. The hashtag was launched by tourism professionals, supported by Moroccans whether in the Kingdom or abroad. Everyone is asking the Moroccan authorities to make a gesture and regulate travel to Morocco in a less radical manner.
The Moroccan authorities provide very little support for these professionals. The only aid offered is a monthly allowance of around 191 euros to employees in the tourism sector. But nothing is in place for managers and owners of tourist establishments.
Mounir Chami, from the National Federation of Tourist Transport, explained a few weeks ago to Le Figaro that “1,670 companies, 95% of which are VSEs-SMEs, have been at a standstill since the start of the crisis”. They are all financially asphyxiated and cannot pay their charges and credits.
Beyond January 31, little hope of recovery
These political decisions have a dramatic effect on tourism which is supposed to pick up again in December with the Christmas holidays. Thousands of reservations were canceled at the last minute.
Morocco had taken the decision to cancel all commercial flights to its territory from November 29, 2021 at midnight for a period of two weeks. This approach aimed to protect Morocco against the Omicron variant and to maintain a health situation that is difficult to stabilize. However, this measure was postponed several times, first until December 31, then until January 31, 2022.
Now the Moroccan destination is causing concern among the foreign public. There are already impacts on February and March bookings. Tourists now fear finding themselves stuck in Morocco, at the slightest decision from the Moroccan authorities. Especially since repatriation flights in this type of situation are too random and can also stop in the event of a significant risk linked to covid-19. This was the case with the interruption of special flights on December 23.
After January 31, therefore, remains obscure for Moroccan tourism. The renewal of these closure measures are often announced at the last minute, leading to cancellations of flights and accommodation with no prospect of a return to normal.
There is therefore little chance that tourists will rush to book reservations for the next vacation. The Omicron variant has only just reached its peak of contagion, we cannot predict its decline. Europe, which supplies the majority of foreign tourists to Morocco, currently represents 57% of total covid-19 cases worldwide.
All forms of tourism affected
Morocco, having focused mainly on international tourism, is paying very dearly for this decision to close. The purchasing power of Moroccans is not at the level of a European tourist, only a minority in Morocco can afford stays in tourist areas.
National tourism is maintained but it brings in low income for the moment. In addition, even local tourism must face obstacles: all cultural events or festivals are canceled, the vaccination pass is compulsory to go to closed spaces.
The Moroccan media Eco Actu also questions the impact of the closure of Morocco on highly developed business tourism in the Kingdom. This is the last emergency lever, but again there is a risk of seeing it disappear in 2022.
Many congresses planned in Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier have been canceled. The organization of this type of event is done in advance and requires solid organization. Morocco does not have the weapons to reassure tourist operators responsible for organizing professional events.
source: visa-algerie.com
