Morocco’s Tourism Crunch: Families Struggle as Vacation Costs Soar

Abdelkader, a father of three children, was unable to afford a vacation with his family this year. After calculation, the costs of rental, meals and transportation far exceeded his budget. "We had to give up. We content ourselves with trips to the beach, but it’s not the same," confides this resident of Casablanca to Le Matin. Samir, another family father, who was able to go to the North, is facing the harsh reality of high prices. "It’s not just the vacations, it’s the whole life that has become more expensive. We still enjoy it, but we come back with the feeling of having spent more for the same thing," he explains.

Youness Mohssine, a real estate agent specializing in seasonal rentals, notes a stability in prices compared to last year. "This year, we have indeed observed a drop in bookings, particularly in the seaside residences with swimming pools in the Casablanca and Sidi Rahal region. Yet, the rates applied have remained the same as in previous years. The problem mainly comes from the drop in purchasing power: with the high cost of living, people can no longer save for vacations as before," he analyzes, specifying that "in the Sidi Rahal region, the occupancy rate does not exceed 50 to 60% this season, whereas it used to reach 100%. And the clientele is now mainly local, whereas before we had a lot of Moroccans living abroad."

Travel agencies also complain about the drop in bookings for Moroccan tourists. "Stays in Morocco need to be made more affordable, especially considering that Moroccans travel mainly in large families," pleads Mohamed Semlali, president of the National Federation of Travel Agencies Associations of Morocco (FNAAVM). However, some manage to find their account. "It’s a magnificent season, with no slowdown or drop in bookings. Sales for July and August were completed by the end of March," rejoices Amine Zghaoui, commercial and marketing director for Morocco and deputy general manager of the Aqua Mirage hotel. According to him, Moroccan tourists limit their chances by booking at the last minute, while foreigners do so months or even a year in advance.

According to Ali Ghannam, president of the Tourism Observatory, Moroccan tourists have simply revised their vacation habits in the face of the general rise in prices. "It is not a lack of interest, but a refocusing on different forms of tourism: nearby destinations, shorter stays, last-minute bookings, more selective choice of services," he explains, adding that "tourists make trade-offs: choice of destination, booking method, flexibility... always in search of an optimal quality/price ratio." And he concludes: "The accessibility of vacations for all social classes is a priority. This involves adapted pricing policies, the development of accessible products all year round, the enhancement of nearby destinations and support for local initiatives."