Unveiling Morocco’s Post-Covid Tourism Renaissance: Unshaken by Earthquake Shock

In a devastating blow to Morocco’s booming tourism industry, an earthquake struck on September 8, resulting in the loss of approximately 3,000 lives, with the majority of casualties occurring in villages located in the High Atlas mountains. Even the popular tourist destination of Marrakech was not spared, as the quake caused deaths and damage to structures in the ancient medina.

Despite initial cancellations of trips following the tragedy, officials remain optimistic about the long-term impact on the sector. Tourism contributes 7% to the country’s GDP and employs 5% of the workforce. Fatim-Zahra Ammor, the tourism minister, states that cancellations have been lower than anticipated, and the year-end projections remain positive.

Prior to the earthquake, Morocco was on track to receive a record-breaking 14 million visitors by year-end. In the first seven months of 2023, there was already a 15% increase in visitors compared to the same period in 2019, which was shortly before the onset of the Covid pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions. The tourism minister reports that tourist revenue for the first seven months of 2023 amounted to $5.6 billion, a significant 38% rise from 2019.

While there has been a temporary setback in tourism in Marrakech, James Wix, director of Le Farnatchi Hotel, remains hopeful for a return to normalcy by November and December. He mentions that the city will be closing his hotel until the end of October to address superficial damages. However, positive news comes with the decision by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to proceed with their annual meetings in Marrakech in October, which will attract global attention and potentially boost tourist arrivals and earnings. Furthermore, Morocco’s selection as a joint host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal further uplifts spirits in the industry.

Azziz Begdouri, owner of La Maison Blanche hotel in Tangier, acknowledges a few cancellations from misinformed travelers who did not realize the distance between Tangier and the High Atlas mountains. He praises the Tangier authorities for utilizing the Covid shutdown to implement comprehensive improvements to the city, enhancing its cleanliness and safety. The government accelerated projects to restore historic areas and introduce new museums, such as the recently opened Beit Yehuda museum dedicated to preserving Tangier’s Jewish heritage.

European tourists make up 70% of Morocco’s visitors, with French and Spanish nationals being the most frequent. The normalization of ties between Morocco and Israel has resulted in an increase in Israeli tourists, and the introduction of e-visas has facilitated travel for visitors from 40 other countries. Additionally, tourists from the EU and select European nations do not require visas to enter Morocco.

Despite the significant challenges faced by the tourism sector due to the pandemic, there is hope for recovery following the earthquake’s impact. With government support, hotels and restaurants have reopened, and the head of the tourist guide association in Tangier reports that all members are currently back to work. Ammor indicates that the majority of hotels have resumed operations, with only a minimal loss of capacity. Investment commitments of $8 billion have been made in the sector, primarily in hotel development.

Looking to the future, Ammor aims to increase tourist arrivals to 17.5 million by the end of 2026 and create an additional 200,000 jobs in the industry. To achieve these goals, the minister emphasizes the need to diversify the country’s tourism offerings with a focus on “experience” packages encompassing various activities such as city breaks, cultural experiences, beach holidays, watersports, mountain hiking, and gastronomy. According to Ammor, travelers now prioritize the experiences they want to have and then choose the destinations that can fulfill those desires.