Morocco’s Tourism Rebounds as CDC Lowers Travel Risk Level

The fact that the US federal public health agency (CDC) has decided to put Morocco on the list of countries at moderate risk, could only give impetus to the tourism sector which was at a standstill, according to an article posted online by Jeune Afrique and titled "Morocco: the tourism industry is ready for battle".

Before the health crisis, the United States provided Morocco with about 300,000 tourists per year. The same figure for Italy and Belgium. France is the leading provider of tourists to Morocco with 1.8 million travelers in 2018, Spain with 800,000, the United Kingdom with 400,000 and Germany with 400,000, specifies Jeune Afrique.

Thus, after the lifting of certain restrictive measures and the resumption of flights, Morocco recorded between the months of May and July, more than 4 million arrivals, an increase of 1% compared to the same period in 2019, notes the magazine, which emphasizes that they are mostly Moroccans residing abroad (MREs), through the Marhaba 2022 operation which has seen an unexpected enthusiasm this year.

Citing figures from the National Airports Office (ONDA), the magazine specifies that in July alone, airport activity had already recorded 70% of that of 2019, allowing hotels that were running out of steam to bounce back and avoid bankruptcy for some. "They are more dynamic there than in any other country in sub-Saharan Africa," informs Jeune Afrique, recalling the 2020 report of the consulting firm W Hospitality, which annually lists the new projects of international hotel chains.