Moroccan Coastal Town Asilah Faces Tourism Crisis as Beaches Close Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

The high tourist season of the city of Asilah is definitively over, according to tourism professionals. Even its beautiful beaches that welcomed tourists are kept closed because of the classification in zone II, reports Aujourd’hui le Maroc. For the first time, Asilah is spending its early summer season almost empty of its visitors, especially tourists, Moroccans and Moroccans living abroad. Even its streets and neighborhoods, known as the most lively during the summer season, its corniche, the old medina, with its new murals, no longer attract many people.

According to the same newspaper, this situation is causing great concern to the various types of businesses that have prepared well for the resumption of their activities. According to the manager of a downtown restaurant, the optimism that animated them for the post-Eid Al Kebir period as was the case for the last two years is no longer appropriate. "We depend a lot on the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Tangier, since we are part of the same prefecture, classified in zone II, among the most affected by the pandemic. While our city Asilah has been among the least affected municipalities," he adds.

According to tourism professionals and others in other activities, Asilah’s continued classification in zone II has complicated their plans to save their summer season, of which they have already missed a large part. Several professionals were hoping to work after Eid with all their staff to meet the demand of the clientele. This is the case of the director of a hotel unit in Asilah, who was counting on this period to make up for the losses suffered during the confinement period.

While some cafes and restaurants on the corniche and Avenue Hassan II continue to welcome their loyal customers, others have been forced to close down due to the drop in revenue that no longer covers the costs. As for hairdressers, caterers and traditional seamstresses, they have been forced to cease their activities for lack of customers.