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Rabat – Despite the devastating earthquake that hit Morocco on September 8, the country’s tourism industry is showing remarkable resilience and determination to recover, according to a special report on Morocco published in business-focused magazine the Financial Times (FT).
While the earthquake claimed the lives of approximately 3,000 people, primarily in villages nestled within the High Atlas mountains, its impact on Morocco’s vital tourism sector is expected to be limited, according to a statement from Morocco’s Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor cited in the FT report.
Morocco’s tourism industry had been on track for record earnings by the end of 2023 before the earthquake struck.
It was estimated that the country would welcome a record 14 million visitors this year. Even in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, cancellations were less than expected. Ammor stated, adding that the government is “confident” in the year-end projections.
In the first seven months of 2023, Morocco welcomed 8.6 million visitors, up 15% compared to the same period in 2019. Tourist revenue during this period reached $5.6 billion, up 38% compared to 2019.
James Wix, director of the Le Farnatchi Hotel in Marrakech, told FT that tourism in the city experienced a slight decline but anticipated a return to normalcy in the coming months.
The boutique hotel will remain closed until the end of October for minor repairs. However, Wix believes that November and December will see a rebound in tourism.
The FT report adds that one positive development is the confirmation that the IMF and the World Bank will proceed with their 2023 annual meetings in Marrakech in October.
The decision is expected to put Morocco in the global spotlight and boost tourist arrivals and earnings.
In Tangier, on Morocco’s northern coast, Aziz Begdouri, owner of La Maison Blanche hotel, told FT that he experienced a few cancellations due to tourists not realizing the distance between Tangier and the High Atlas mountain range.
He commended Tangier’s authorities for upgrading and cleaning the city during the COVID-19 shutdown, preparing for a tourism rebound.
Europe remains the primary source of Morocco’s visitors, the report notes, with France and Spain leading the way. However, Morocco has also seen an increase in tourists from Israel since the normalization of ties in 2020, facilitated by the introduction of direct flights and an e-visa system.
Despite the earthquake and the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are hopeful that Morocco’s tourism sector will recover swiftly. The government provided support to the industry during the pandemic, and Abdellatif Chebaa, the head of the tourist guide association in Tangier, reported that all of his 180 members are back to work.
Ammor unveiled that almost all hotels have reopened, with only a minimal loss of capacity.
In 2022, the sector attracted approximately $8 billion in investment commitments, primarily directed towards hotels.
In addition, the minister secured government funding of MAD 6.1 billion (about $600 million) for a program aimed at increasing tourist arrivals to 17.5 million by the end of 2026 and creating 200,000 jobs directly and indirectly, with a goal of boosting annual tourism revenue to $12 billion.
Key to this ambitious plan is a restructuring of Morocco’s tourism offerings, including a diverse range of “experience” packages such as city breaks, cultural tours, beach vacations, watersports, mountain hiking, and gastronomic experiences.
Ammor emphasized the importance of tailoring tourism experiences to the preferences of modern travelers, who prioritize the experiences they seek before selecting their destination.
Read Also: Morocco’s Tourism Industry Booms in 2023, with Border Arrivals Surging by 92%
