Agadir Restaurants Face Economic Downturn Despite Summer Tourism Boost

An economic recession is observed in the restaurant sector in Agadir. According to Abdelkrim Zahir, President of the Association of Tourist Restaurant Owners in Agadir, the increased tourist attendance this summer was not beneficial, especially for establishments located in the tourist area and, in particular, on the seafront.

"Previously, the turnover of restaurants was generated thanks to a lasting activity throughout the year. Currently, tourism in Agadir is paced by the summer season, where vacations are concentrated," he said.

The other reason cited concerns the conditions that are not met to welcome this clientele in the restaurants, due to the closure of the access roads leading to the corniche and the lack of parking for cars.

But this crisis, notes Leseco.ma, is to be relativized because, just like the hotel industry, the restaurant industry, which includes more than 120 restaurants, at the level of the Tourist and Seaside Zone (STB), hides disparities depending on several parameters.

"The majority of investments made in the STB were based on foreign flows, while the trend has changed currently in Agadir with the predominance of nationals, especially in summer, despite the recovery of traditional markets, particularly French," observed Abdelkrim Zahir.

For him, what would be at the origin of this situation is nothing other than the "All inclusive" imposed by tour operators on hoteliers. "This tourist formula has," he deplored, "negatively impacted our sector and other complementary activities".