Coronavirus pushed Morocco’s tourism promotion office to focus on domestic tourists

Morocco’s tourism promotion office (ONMT) is planning to encourage domestic tourism to compensate for losses due to the global impact of the coronavirus on international tourist arrivals.

Prospects for a return to normalcy in the tourism sector before 2021 are bleak, said l’Economiste daily citing the office.

“Hopes are therefore pinned on domestic demand as a solution to the current context,” it said.

Moroccan tourist contribute to tourism revenues by 30%, the paper said, adding that a review of the offer and prices is at stake in order to encourage domestic tourism.

 

The office launched a campaign targeting the domestic market amid fears the crisis could cripple the market. The High commission for planning said about 89% of restaurants and hotels are closed due to the confinement.

 

The tourism sector and all the activities that shape its value chain, i.e. hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and distribution networks, ground transportation and car rentals, event industry and all related professions, have almost all come to a halt since mid-March, when the country decided to close all international air, land, and maritime routes, the Moroccan Tourism Federation said.

The lockdown stopped activity at 3,500 hotels, 500 restaurants and catering companies, 1,450 travel agencies, 1,500 tourist transport agencies and 1,500 car rental companies, the confederation said.

Tourism sector losses could amount to over $13.85 billion (MAD 138 billion) between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 crisis, it said.

Tourism represents 11% of GDP and employs 750,000 people directly and more than 2.5 million indirectly.