Morocco’s Tourism and Restaurant Sectors Face New Setback as COVID-19 Cases Surge

Tourism and catering professionals were hoping to take advantage of the easing of restrictive measures and the arrival of Moroccan expatriates (MREs) on vacation. But unfortunately, positive and serious Covid-19 cases have seen an increase and drastic measures have been taken to prevent Morocco from sinking into chaos again. Actors in tourism and catering have expressed their distress through a sit-in organized in front of the headquarters of the Wilaya of the Oriental and the municipality of Oujda.

"By its nature, the work of caterers and party professionals is organized, because we operate by precise and quantified orders. Of course, it happens that the organizer of the party invites more people, but we are used to a margin of 10%," says Abdelkader Badaoui, president of the Moroccan Federation of Party Organizers, quoted by L’Économiste.

The members of this federation do not understand why wedding and party ceremonies are banned while souks and supermarkets teeming with people are not closed. They disapprove of the decision and explain that they could have been asked to reduce the number of order tables, insist on the organization of these events in open spaces with precise notifications to be respected, instead of making a decision that will finish off the little strength that remains in the professionals of the sector.

More than 2 million Moroccans work in the sector and they can find themselves unemployed if nothing is done. "Without stable income, we need to work every day to meet our needs at the risk of losing our dignity," observes a professional. The same goes for cafe and restaurant owners who think their sector doesn’t have to pay for the rest. According to the new measures, cafes and restaurants must close at 9 p.m. Unfair, think some owners, who explain that they are being asked to close at the time when restaurants and cafes should receive many customers.