Saudi Journalist Sparks Outrage with Controversial Claims About Morocco’s Economy

"I would like to address the collapse of tourism in the ’hat’ countries. The ’hat’ countries are the states where people used to wear hats [traditional]," the journalist said in a video. For him, the "hat countries" have experienced an economic collapse in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic because they depend on tourism industries rather than other industrial sectors such as agriculture.

"If tourism was good [for the economy], Greece would now be one of the richest countries. The country is one of the poorest in the world," he pointed out. Al Shamri indicated that countries like Morocco, Jordan and Egypt have bet on tourism and built seaside resorts to attract European tourists who "piss on them".

Focusing on the case of Morocco, he hinted that the country sends its citizens to work abroad. In turn, they make money transfers to the kingdom. The Saudi journalist claimed that the funds of Moroccan immigrants amount to $60 billion per year, but the actual figure does not exceed $8 billion. For Al Shamrik, most of these funds come from prostitution, as Morocco "sends its women abroad to prostitute themselves".