The president of the CNT for active collaboration of all stakeholders
It was under a breath of hope that the 24 travel agencies members of the MTM DMC Club held their monthly session on September 14, 2021 in Casablanca. After 18 months of impasse, the tourism industry is still stuck in this endless crisis. However, those in the sector do not despair. For its part, the National Tourism Confederation (CNT) is going to meet professionals. As such, a framework was given to them. This should result in a deliverable including fiscal and social measures which do not exist in the program contract and which can allow them to be more resilient or to begin the recovery more quickly. It is also a question of laying the foundations for a sustainable recovery and participating in the creation of wealth.
A collective response
Collecting good ideas and implementing them to move forward drives the MTM DMC Club. “We came together to participate in the rebirth of Moroccan tourism because all of us, as many of us as we are, still believe in it with as much optimism and hope for a better tomorrow for the sector. I don’t know by what miracle we managed to keep our businesses on the road during this difficult time. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that all the companies have concrete projects. We have a demand that is becoming clearer day by day,” said Az-Eddine Skalli, president of the MTM DMC Club during this meeting. However, if clear and common measures are not taken quickly, demand could potentially suffer. With the restrictions, the closures of certain destinations still numerous and the absence of a clear protocol to follow in certain situations linked to Covid-19, travelers are opting for nearby countries. Travel agencies whose activity is mainly focused on Morocco’s external borders are hoping for effective coordination to ensure a revival of the sector and the simplification of procedures for travelers and operators. Added to this is the need to curb the financial and psychological damage caused by several months of health crisis.
Towards an offensive recovery plan
In terms of human resources, the sector weighs heavily. It can generate jobs if the conditions are met for the effective revival of the sector. Until then, the CNT is listening and working to integrate operational and effective solutions that will meet the needs of those involved in this activity which supports a good number of Moroccan families. In its program, the Confederation intends to expand its bodies to as many members as possible and offer the necessary conditions for active collaboration among all stakeholders. This involves prioritizing the strengthening of representation of both professions and regions. This openness advocated by the new presidency of the CNT aims to integrate both young talents and people with extensive experience in the field.
“There are many issues to discuss with the new government, whether on air travel, marketing, digital, or even taxation. We need these talents and skills to make proposals on themes relating to tourism and to move the sector forward,” explains Hamid Bentahar, president of the CNT. To achieve a project bringing together all stakeholders, the Confederation’s project is based on three major axes, namely co-construction, competitiveness and sustainability. The objective being to constitute a force of proposals to develop the sector after having collected all the proposals.
Accommodation establishments, travel agencies, tourist transporters… the tourism activity also has a multitude of players, hence the complexity of the decision-making process unlike other sectors. “I consider that this diversity is an asset because we are 20 years ahead of other Moroccan industries,” argues Hamid Bentahar, recalling that tourism was the first sector to gain the trust of Moroccan investors.
source: today.ma
