Moroccan Tourism Revenue Plummets 98% in Summer Amid COVID-19 Crisis

The months of July and August were catastrophic for the tourism sector. According to Nadia Fettah Alaoui, the number of overnight stays recorded during this period in classified tourist accommodation establishments fell by 92%, while the sector’s revenue experienced a dizzying drop of 98% during the same period. Addressing the deputies, the minister stressed the bitterness of the sector’s players who continue to suffer the consequences of the health crisis. Indeed, during the period from July to August, the sector only recorded 1.6 billion dirhams in revenue, a 92% decrease.

During the presentation of the sectoral budget of her department to Parliament on Monday, Nadia Fettah Alaoui specified that the number of overnight stays by non-resident tourists in classified tourist accommodation establishments during the months of July and August did not exceed 50,587 nights, a 98% decrease. This decrease also affected the number of overnight stays booked by Moroccan tourists, which did not exceed 1.02 million. On the professional side, overall losses of 80% of turnover are deplored according to a study carried out by the ministry. However, 75% of these professionals said they did not resort to layoffs during this period, knowing that 57% of professionals had stated that 90% of their employees were on leave due to the vagaries related to the pandemic.

In her presentation, Nadia Fettah Alaoui also acknowledged that the handicraft sector has not been spared by the health crisis. The closure of marketing spaces, shopping malls and complexes dedicated to crafts, the cancellation of national and international orders as well as the cancellation of exhibitions and events that contribute to the promotion of craft products, have plunged this sector into a serious lethargy. In this regard, according to a survey conducted by the ministry in May, 35% of craftsmen reported a complete cessation of their activity, while 79% said they had a liquidity problem. Meanwhile, 34% of these craftsmen said they had bank loans, 8% of whom were unable to meet their commitments.