Morocco Urges Domestic Tourism to Revive Hard-Hit Travel Industry

The minister believes that we need to start on a good footing to revive tourism, the first sector to be affected nationally and internationally by the crisis. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a 60% to 80% drop compared to 2019. The weekly Challenge reports that Morocco has recorded a 45% national decline in the first four months of this year. But the situation continues to evolve with the closure of hotels in May and early June.

However, a special anti-Covid-19 fund has helped mitigate the economic and social effects of the health crisis, according to the minister’s remarks. She is calling on her compatriots to show patriotism to save the sector, even though tourism has been much neglected in recent years. The minister plans to extend medical and social protection to the benefit of employees and self-employed workers in all sectors directly or indirectly related to tourism.

Regarding the air transport sector, one third of freight is at a standstill. Globally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts losses of $252 billion. In Morocco, the drop in the number of passengers is estimated at 5 million. However, efforts are being made to strengthen freight and offset some of the losses.

According to Challenge, since handicrafts are already a fragile sector, exports have fallen by 34% during the first four months of this year. This sector has also benefited from an anti-Covid-19 fund. Like other laws already passed, the draft law 50-17, more specific to craft activities, is currently being adopted by Parliament.

Finally, the minister addresses the social economy component, which according to her, should be based on solidarity, and above all on capacity building, in particular through support for cooperatives.