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Fez – Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social Economy, Fatima-Zahra Ammor, said her department has developed a relaunch plan for the tourism sector following the government’s decision to reopen borders.
Ammor made the announcement during a hearing in the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the Moroccan parliament, in response to a question on “the emergency plan to support tourism and the measures taken in the sectors of tourism, crafts, social economy and solidarity.”
Ammor stressed the ministry’s plan is set to be carried out in partnership with international touring operators like Global Caravan, FTI Touristik, and airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia. The minister also noted the ministry’s focus on various means of marketing promotion, including digital platforms.
The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) mediated the partnership between the ministry and tourism operators, said Ammor.
According to the minister, Morocco has reached 35 agreements with 15 partners to ensure a significant tourism revival and an influx of foreign tourists following the reopening of borders.
Ammor also indicated the planning of a global advertising campaign to promote “Morocco” as a destination through billboards, which will begin as soon as foreign tourists return to the North African country.
Read also: Moroccan Tourism Workers Speak of Suffering Due to Border Closures
Describing the situation of the tourism sector since the outbreak of COVID-19, Ammor said Morocco experienced a 71% drop in tourist arrivals in 2021 compared to 2019. She also mentioned the loss of 20 million travelers and MAD 90 billion ($9.59 billion) in foreign exchange profits in the past two years.
The minister further recalled that Morocco’s government approved in January a five-measure emergency plan worth MAD 2 billion ($216 million) to support the country’s COVID-hit tourism industry.
As Moroccan tourism is faced with dire prospects amid the continuing COVID crisis and over tourists’ growing apprehension of Morocco’s last-minute border closures, Ammor appeared to promise that decision-making will now be more inclusive and show concern for tourism professionals.
Consultations with other stakeholders have taken place in order to prepare a draft decree on compensation packages and 4 agreements on deferral of contributions, she noted.
