Morocco to extend stipend to tourism workers hit by Covid-19 restrictions

The Moroccan government has approved a measure to extend stipend in aid to workers in the tourism industry who have been idled due to the restrictive measures taken by the government to contain Covid-19 outbreak.

Morocco has closed its borders to all passenger traffic amid the surge of the new Omicron variant. The decision took effect starting Nov 29 for two weeks.

During its Thursday meeting, the government has not made a decision yet on extending or lifting the flight ban. It will only announce the next move on Saturday, health minister said.

For now, financial aid -covering the Sep-Dec period benefiting workers in the tourist industry -could give a lifeline to the badly-hit hospitality industry in the country which saw arrivals drop from 13 million in 2019 to near 2 million this and last year.

Tourism operators hope domestic tourism will make up for some of the losses during the new year peak season.