End of Covid tunnel for Morocco’s tourism sector

Morocco’s tourism businesses started to breathe a sigh of relief as the battered sector showed first signs of recovery from the fallout of the pandemic. With 80% in tourism revenue, the future looks promising for the sector backed by a promotional campaign targeting main tourist emitting countries.

Speaking to MPs, tourism minister confirmed the recovery of the sector which posted revenue of 9.7 billion dirhams by end of March 2022, up 80% compared to the same period last year.

Morocco has earmarked 2 billion dirhams to help the sector overcome the impact of the restrictive measures to contain new Covid-19 variants earlier this year.

This aid included stipend for tourism workers who had to stop activity due to the pandemic as well as aid to tourism businesses to renovate.

Professionals are also happy Morocco canceled the PCR requirement to access the country, a move they hope will encourage more tourists to visit the Kingdom.

A number of low-cost airlines have resumed flights to Morocco with Ryanair for instance announcing that it will raise the number of air routes to Morocco to 37 by next summer adding 2.073 million seat capacity, up 54% compared to pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

Tourism represents some 7% of Morocco’s GDP with 8 billion dollars of revenue in 2019.

The measures to contain the pandemic have hit hard the sector which only received 4 million tourists in 2021 and receipts of 3.5 billion dollars.