Morocco’s Tourism Industry Pivots to Domestic Travel Amid COVID-19 Recovery

Given the adverse effects of the coronavirus crisis, "domestic tourism will be the last to restart," according to L’Économiste, which is based on the recent videoconference with the Minister of Tourism, Nadia Fettah. And even if the sector has been truly affected, this pandemic offers it an opportunity to "bounce back and regain its vigor." This is what Aziz Lebbar, president of the CRT of Fez, thinks, who believes that "this crisis is an opportunity to unite around a set of concrete measures capable of preparing the recovery."

For her part, the minister remains convinced that this is not the time to deal with the recurring problems of the sector, but rather "to prioritize the demands to record the recovery." It will be up to the players "to bet everything on the national market and to make it a real priority in the future." The resumption of international tourism will take time, given the coronavirus crisis, the consequences of which are still vivid in the memory of tourists. For now, industry professionals are proposing the development of a program under the slogan "Consume Moroccan." They also believe that "packages must take into account the decline in purchasing power, and this for all destinations."

Talking about the revival of tourism also means public transportation, which must offer advantageous pricing to support the recovery. Professionals also call for the creation of a special fund dedicated to the revival of domestic tourism. An action to which banks and companies are called upon to contribute.