Fez Artisans Face Crisis as Tourism Slump Hits Moroccan Craft Sector

In a statement to Hespress, Abdelmalek Al Boutiyine, president of the Fez-Meknès Chamber of Crafts, indicated that "the situation is critical, the sector is in crisis". Usually lively and crowded, the alleys of the Fez Medina are empty and sad. With their hands on their temples, the artisans and merchants sit in front of their shops, sniffing the air and praying for customers to come to them. Failing to sell, they express their concerns about the scarcity of rain, the lack of money, and the high cost of living.

Faced with poor sales, some merchants have resigned themselves, leaving their shops closed. According to Abdelmalek Al Boutiyine, the trades directly or indirectly related to tourism are paying a heavy price since the beginning of this crisis. "All these trades are at a standstill," he affirms, but some of them are more impacted, such as the leather trades. "The case of the tanners is a huge problem that has been going on for a long time and we are fighting to find solutions, we have done everything, and even the Wali has made a lot of efforts," he said.

No craft sector escapes the effects of this ongoing crisis. "The situation is really difficult, but it is widespread and we hope that it will improve in the coming weeks," he said. With the improvement of the epidemiological situation and Morocco’s return to the green zone, things will certainly improve. The artisans remain hopeful. "According to the data I have, our region has still seen an increase in bookings for March. We hope that things will improve for next month," he said.