Morocco Welcomes Tourists Despite Earthquake Devastation, Experts Say

Should you plan a trip to the country after the devastating September 2023 earthquake? While some parts of Morocco have been severely damaged by the earthquake, the country remains the most open to visitors, says the website lonelyplanet.com. Nawfal Serhir, a Moroccan expert, confirms: "Although it was in shock after the earthquake, the people we met when we delivered donations to the villages around Taroudant were more welcoming than ever. Even though many were homeless and in mourning, they still welcomed us warmly with a smile."

The most affected provinces are the mainly rural areas of Al-Haouz, where the epicenter is located, and Chichaoua, in the Marrakech-Safi region, as well as the provinces of Taroudant in the south, in the Souss-Massa region, Ouarzazate to the east, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, and Azilal, northeast of the epicenter, in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region. Less damage was recorded beyond the High Atlas and Marrakech.

Lonely planet advises tourists to visit Fez, an ancient medina with spectacular architecture, and Chefchaouen, a city imbued with that charming blue hue. The site also recommends them to ride camels through the Saharan dunes, discover the delights of Moroccan cuisine and also go hiking in the cedar forests, the gentle slopes of the Middle Atlas and the Rif mountains.

After the earthquake, Morocco allocated 120 billion dirhams (12 billion dollars) for reconstruction over the next five years. Following a meeting held at the royal palace in Rabat, chaired by King Mohammed VI, it was decided to implement a "general program for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake". It "aims to rehouse the affected people, rebuild the areas and rehabilitate the infrastructure in the affected areas, for the benefit of 4.2 million people". Some 50,000 homes that were completely or partially destroyed are affected by the program.