Beyond the cyclical aspects, the health crisis has revealed much deeper ills, of a structural nature. The big challenge is to transform this crisis into an opportunity. It’s possible, but some prior breaks are necessary.
The official approach is that of the firefighter. Normal, you have to deal with emergencies. Put out the fire, and then? Wait for another fire to break out, perhaps bigger and more devastating?
Certainly, a recent IMF report confirms, in its projections, the negative and lasting impact of the crisis on tourism, at the global level. And Morocco is among the most impacted countries. Hence the “Contract-Program-Tourism”, signed between the State and professionals where it is mainly a question of financial support, in terms of special credits such as “Damane Relance” for the hotel industry, transporters and tour operators, and support of 2000 dirhams for salaries, until the end of December 2020. The immediate objective is the maintenance of jobs and the preservation of tourist activities, as well as those which closely depend on them, the stimulation of internal demand and the upgrading of various stakeholders. In this sense, the aid system put in place includes 21 measures. But far from adopting a global approach and a two-speed method, the dominant attitude is that of the “balancing artists”, favoring financing almost exclusively.
Nevertheless, the planned financing mechanisms are limited to tourism businesses that were solvent before the current health crisis. A moratorium on loans and leasing for businesses and employees is planned, as well as loans guaranteed by the State, namely “Damane Relance” for SMEs/VSEs with a turnover of less than 10 million dirhams, and “Damane Relance hôtellerie”, at an interest rate of 3.5%. A lump sum compensation of 2000 dirhams is also provided for each employee subject to the retention of 80% of employees. Aid of 2,000 dirhams will be granted to guides in a regular situation.
In fact, in their reactions, the majority of professionals in the sector give priority to international tourism. This is true in most statements. National tourism hardly seems to be an alternative. In any case, not immediately. Everyone is talking about opening borders and the need for visibility in air transport. Abdellatif Kabbaj, president of the National Tourism Confederation, summarizes this vision: “Tourism is based on two elements: accommodation capacity and air transport. Without the latter, we could not talk about recovery.” Thus the gestation of a new vision of tourism, with a return to the sources, while being part of innovative perspectives, in terms of respect for environmental balances, still seems quite distant.
source: challenge.ma
