Morocco’s Tourism Industry Plummets Amid COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

The economic situation note for the national and international situation made public by the DTFE indicates that the suspension since March 15, 2020 of all air and sea links with Morocco as well as the declaration of the state of health emergency have led to a near-total halt in tourism activity in the kingdom.

Despite the response measures initiated by the Moroccan government, the DTFE points out that the statistics on tourist arrivals at border posts in the 4th quarter of 2020 fell by 79.8%, due to declines of 92% for foreign tourists and 59% for Moroccans living abroad.

During the same period, the Directorate notes "the nights spent in classified hotels fell by 82.6%, the result of declines of 94% for non-residents and 52.3% for residents."

While in 2019, tourist arrivals had climbed +5.2% and overnight stays by +5.1%, by the end of 2020, they had plummeted by 78.5% and 72.4%, detail the DTFE economists.

To stem the bleeding, the Moroccan government announced easing from September for certain categories of travelers and relaxing the conditions for entering the country.

Exposing the global tourism situation, the DTFE notes that international tourism recorded 1 billion fewer tourist arrivals compared to 2019 and a loss of $1,300 billion in revenue. This unprecedented drop is linked to "the widespread imposition of travel restrictions," the directorate explains, citing data from the World Tourism Organization.

By region, the Asia-Pacific region is in the lead with an estimated 84% drop in arrivals. It is followed by the Middle East and Africa (75%) and Europe with 70% ahead of the Americas which is less affected with 69%, a score improved in the last quarter.

For the future, the UNWTO believes that tourism will need two and a half to four years to relaunch. For 2021, the organization notes "a deterioration of the overall prospects for recovery".