Marrakech Tourism Crisis Deepens as Business Events Vanish

Festivals, professional congresses, sports events and trade shows, etc., one after the other, the ochre city is losing its events in favor of other destinations. Local operators point to the lack of will of the authorities who have apparently not developed any recovery plan for business tourism.

The professionals interviewed by L’Economiste evoke a disastrous situation a few days before the winter season, even though the summer has given nothing. Unfortunately, no signal from the organizing institutions has been observed so far, they lament. All this, despite the sacrifices of the populations to observe the drastic health measures imposed by the government.

The newspaper recalls that for a long time, events have allowed the city to maintain its growth and provide entertainment. It cites the example of the hundred national and international events including professional congresses, sports meetings, festivals and trade shows generating a good part of the overnight stays.

"An event of this size needs a precise date and advance organization to identify the venues, hotels..." said a local travel agent. More than the pandemic, it is the ban on gatherings that is affecting the tourism sector, he laments.

Regarding Covid-19, the newspaper reports that with the success of vaccination and the epidemiological situation improving every week, the authorities should allow the resumption of events, because it points out, in Europe or Turkey, in the Gulf countries, the recovery is underway with the scheduling of all professional trade shows and cultural events with conditions including the health pass.