Marrakech Tourism Plummets as COVID-19 Cases Surge in Morocco

The coronavirus pandemic has not only destabilized the health system. It has caused damage, certainly surmountable but difficult. This year, Marrakech is bearing the brunt of the damage caused by the pandemic. The tourism sector is struggling, visitors have no desire to jeopardize their health by coming to a city that has recorded the highest infection rates in the country in recent weeks. In addition, to curb the spread of the virus, the city is subject to restrictive measures that are reinforced each time the epidemiological situation worsens, reports RFI.

In the streets of the city, iconic places such as Jemaa el-Fna square, the Majorelle Garden, the Bahia Palace, normally crowded, are empty. Even those in the streets who usually attract the attention of tourists with acrobatics and other entertainment are confined to their homes, trying to protect themselves from the virus. According to figures published by the local authorities, Morocco will lose 10 million tourists and it is Marrakech that will pay the heaviest price.

Hotel managers are in the doldrums and are reflecting on strategies to limit the damage, especially since many have invested, hoping for a resumption of activities. Fabrice Castelorizio is the general manager of Radisson Blue. He has managed to retain his employees but makes no promises about the future. "We had the audacity to reopen, today we are tinkering with 15-20% occupancy," explains Fabrice Castelorizio. For him, it is literally an impossible mission to make plans for tomorrow.

Even if other hotels have chosen to throw in the towel while waiting to see clearly, the director of the Radisson Blue explains that they will have to find another activity capable of helping them cover the charges that are increasing while the revenues are scarce. For Ibtissam Jamili, general manager of the Kenzi Menara Palace, only the opening of borders will be able to save the hotels from a slow but certain death, indicates RFI.

The entire tourism chain is threatened. According to Fouzi Zemrani, vice-president general of the Tourism Confederation, the decline in the sector will cause an "immeasurable social drama". Official forecasts indicate that the economic impact of the crisis could be felt until 2023, the same source specifies.