Morocco’s Tourism Chief Unveils Plan to Revitalize Sector Post-Pandemic

In an interview with the daily « L’Économiste », Mr. Bentahar believes that the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences are an opportunity to show the solidity of the tourism sector in Morocco, as the foundations remain solid despite the crisis.

The official aims to create momentum, bring together and mobilize all the communities of tourism industry players for a sustainable and bold recovery.

According to him, all the studies carried out both nationally and internationally prove that travel remains a necessity. A new strong recovery strategy must therefore be endowed with sufficient means, the will of the public authorities and the mobilization of all the players, emphasizes the newspaper.

In terms of competitiveness, the emphasis is mainly on the renewal of the support measures of the program contract, the acceleration of digitalization to conquer new markets, the stimulation of local and international demand, the increase in resident nights and the increase in travel revenues.

"It is therefore essential today that we obtain the extension of the employment and tourism business support measures until the end of December 2021," he insisted.

In this context, the new president indicates that in the short term, three measures are planned to support companies and jobs, the newspaper points out.

First, there are social measures such as the maintenance of the CNSS program contract scheme and its extension to December 31, 2021, and the revision of the schedules for the payment of deferred and due social security contributions from 2020 and 2021, starting from 2022 with a spread over 24 months.

For banking measures, he cited long-term banking rescheduling with the Professional Group of Moroccan Banks (GPBM) and the strengthening of the intervention of the Central Guarantee Fund (CCG), the deferral of leasing loans for transport sector companies as well as a deferral of loan repayments contracted by sector employees.

As for the 3rd measure, it concerns taxation. "We are asking for a tax moratorium for 2020 and 2021, for local taxes, in particular the professional tax, on January 1, 2022, with a spread over 24 months without fees or penalties," he suggested.

As for sustainability, human capital training, societal and environmental impact, and innovation and creativity are three important issues, concludes Bentahar.