Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social, and Solidarity Economy Fatima-Zahra Ammor stated that the emergency plan to support tourism seeks to save jobs and support businesses in the sector.
“Given the health crisis, and in light of its impact on the tourism sector, the government, in consultation with professionals and all stakeholders, has put in place this emergency plan which aims to safeguard jobs in the sector, support businesses facing financial constraints and prepare them for the recovery phase of tourism activity,” Ammor said in a press briefing on January 20.
The emergency plan aims to provide all employees in the sector, including tourist transportation workers and those in qualifying restaurants, with MAD 2,000 ($215) compensation. National Social Security Fund (CNSS) charges will be postponed for 6 months, Ammor reported.
The MAD 2 billion ($216 million) plan provided support especially to hoteliers as the state promised to cover the interim interest for hoteliers and tourist transportation workers’ bank payments covering the period of their inactivity in 2021 and 2022.
Hoteliers were exempted from 2020 and 2021 business taxes and the state allocated MAD 1 billion ($107,775) to support them in resuming business after border reopening, the minister added.
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In a press release responding to the emergency plan, Morocco’s National Federation of Tourist Transport welcomed interest exemption for bank loan payments but requested an extension until touristic activities resume in the country.
Additionally, the federation condemned the exclusion of the tourism transport sector from tax exemption, noting that they were first to be affected by the halt of tourism.
“The National Federation of Tourist Transport stresses that the shortcomings of the ‘emergency plan to support tourism’ confirm the urgency of the federation’s demand to create a special program for each sector [within the tourism industry],”’ the statement said.
Earlier this month, approximately 250 workers representing travel agencies across Morocco participated in a protest. In front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism in Rabat, the protestors called for reopening the borders and state support.
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