Rabat – Morocco’s tourism in the COVID-19 era continues to struggle. With the recent extension of air travel suspensions, tourism professionals from southeastern Morocco are urging the country to reopen its borders to revive their tourism business.
As the world is facing an unprecedented health crisis, tourism professionals from the southeastern region of Draa-Tafilalet have launched an online campaign under the hashtag “SOS Support Tourism, Open the borders.”
Many business owners in the region took photos carrying a sign with the aforementioned hashtag and wearing the ‘Blue Djellaba,’ traditional clothes for men in the Sahara desert.
The hashtag was spread on social media, with many locals showing support to business owners and sending them words of encouragement.
The Sahara Desert remains among the most desired locations tourists like to visit in Morocco, with many facilities hosting guests over the December holidays. During the lockdown last year, many desert hoteliers and individuals opened their doors for free to host foreign guests who were unable to return home.
The campaign expresses their desire to resume tourism activities in the region and save the sector following the great losses they suffered from due to COVID-19 and constant border closures since March 2020.
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Morocco’s decision to extend the travel ban until January 31 came as a preventive measure to limit the spread of the Omicron variant in the country.
Authorities also banned all New Year’s Eve celebrations, imposing a curfew from 12 a.m. until 6 a.m. on January 1. Restaurants and cafes are also required to close at 11:30 p.m.
The measures are part of Morocco’s state of emergency amid fears over increased infection cases.
