Marrakech Hotels Face Mass Closures as Border Restrictions Continue

"Our clientele is international and as long as the borders are closed, it is useless to keep the doors open since the establishment is empty. The decision will be reviewed at the end of January depending on the evolution of the pandemic and the reopening of the borders," says Brahim Ait Moussa, director of the 5-star hotel, the Jardins de la Koutoubia, who has ceased his activities since the beginning of the year.

Several other hotel establishments have decided to stop operating, pending the reopening of the borders, reports L’Économiste. They are bearing the full brunt of the crisis. "Hotels have consumed all their capital and the majority of operators are in default of payment to suppliers," explains Ahmed Bennani, president of the Hotel Industry Association (AIH).

Overwhelmed by the situation, and still not seeing the promised aid from the supervisory ministry, industry professionals are considering locking up and proceeding with economic layoffs. An option that must be endorsed by the prefect and requires the production of several supporting documents to the competent authorities. Despite the ongoing crisis, Marrakech hoteliers do not wish to go to this extreme, because "there is nothing worse than parting with human resources," notes Bennani.

The year 2021 is "a zero year without equivalent or almost," further laments the president of the AIH, stressing that the still open hotels have recorded a 91% drop in overnight stays compared to 2019. In the absence of visibility, the situation is serious for the hoteliers of Marrakech who represent about 40% of the national beds.