Marrakech Tourism Industry Struggles as COVID-19 Empties Iconic Square

"The snakes and monkeys are dead... soon we’ll follow them," declares to AFP Mariam Amal. This musician used to perform on the famous Jemaa el-Fna square, but the Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected her activity. "This is the first time in its history that the square is empty," says the woman who had been performing on the square since the age of 10. Many artists "find themselves begging to survive," confides this 55-year-old professional musician. In 2019, Marrakech had welcomed three million tourists, but the closure of borders and health restrictions have put tourism to the test.

"I first started by selling my fridge, my washing machine, before deciding to change jobs," says the storyteller Hicham El Hench, who is in a precarious situation. "I’ve laid down my weapons. For three months, I haven’t been working," says this father of two who had been working "since his earliest childhood" on the square and earned about 10 euros a day. The thirty-year-old says he tried to retrain in the sale of fruits and vegetables, "but it didn’t work."

The health crisis has also had a negative impact on the activity of hoteliers, restaurateurs and travel agents in Marrakech. "The year 2020 was catastrophic, 2021 will also be if the borders remain closed," estimates the manager of a large hotel, recalling that foreign customers represent 70% of the tourist flow in Marrakech. Half of the 200 hotels in the city are currently closed, "and if we don’t have visibility for the summer, several will close down," assures this professional who requested anonymity.

In 2020, 2.2 million tourists arrived in Morocco, a decrease of 78% compared to 2019, according to official figures. Tourism contributes heavily to the Moroccan economy. The sector represents 7% of GDP. According to the Ministry of Finance, tourism revenues, which were around 80 billion dirhams in 2019, fell by 65% until early 2021. "Lifting the restrictions is the only way to save tourism," estimates an operator. Professionals in the sector had also made a plea in this direction.