Morocco’s Tourism Industry Struggles to Recover, Seeks Government Support Amid Pandemic

The latest report from the National Confederation of Tourism (CNT) is banking on 2021 to see the sector emerge from the abyss into which it has been unexpectedly plunged. According to the CNT, the sector "will also have to face a long period of inactivity or reduced activity". According to the confederation, "all the players in the sector will be affected and will have to face a very difficult period until December 2020". Industry professionals are calling for a general mobilization to "save a sector that is vital for employment and the economy, whose foreign exchange losses could reach 138 billion dirhams".

According to l’Économiste, they propose "the implementation of a specific safeguard mechanism for the sector, which revolves around maintaining the production tool and jobs and preserving competitiveness with a recovery plan". This mechanism includes an additional investment estimated at 1.7 billion dirhams, of which 1.2 billion dirhams for the safeguarding of the sector, and 500 million dirhams for the relaunch.

Measures will have to be counted on such as "the exemption from social and tax charges for 12 months in favor of companies in activity that have maintained 80% of the workforce, or the deferral of all credit maturities for companies for a minimum of 12 months instead of the 3 months granted. There is also the possibility, for companies that retain 80% of jobs, to pay their employees online. A tax exemption for early retirement will also apply to employees close to retirement age, at their request.