UN Report: Morocco Among Top Countries Hit by $1.2 Trillion Tourism Crisis

According to the report entitled "Covid-19 and tourism: assessing the economic consequences", in the event that the suspension of international tourism lasts eight months, the recorded losses could reach $2.2 trillion, or 2.8% of global GDP, and $3.3 trillion, or 4.2% of global GDP, if the sector is at a standstill for 12 months.

The same source indicates that a group of 15 both rich and developing countries will suffer this situation. These include Jamaica, Thailand and Croatia, which will record losses of 11%, 9% and 8% of their GDP respectively.

Six African countries are on the list of the most affected countries, namely: Kenya and Morocco, with losses estimated at 5% of their GDP each, Mauritius, Senegal, Egypt and South Africa with losses of around 3% of GDP each.

With this rate, Morocco is the 7th most affected country by the Covid-19 health crisis in the tourism sector, the report points out, specifying that for every $1 million in lost international tourism revenue, a country’s national income could decline by $2 to $3 million.

The report does not overlook the ripple effect of tourism losses on other economic sectors related to tourism such as catering and entertainment, not to mention that the drastic reduction in tourist arrivals has in turn led to a rise in the unemployment rate, especially among women estimated at 54% in the accommodation and catering sectors.

"Even if tourism is slowly restarting in some countries, it remains at a standstill in many others," notes UNCTAD, noting that health measures in place in some countries could be a source of slowing the recovery of the sector.