“The resilience of Moroccan tourism after the earthquake: supporting the ravaged regions and rebuilding”
Morocco, a country renowned for its natural beauty and cultural richness, was hit hard by a violent earthquake last weekend. As rescuers work to find survivors among the rubble, another concern arises: the impact on the tourism industry.
Before the disaster, tourism represented a significant part of the Moroccan economy, contributing between 8 and 10% of GDP. Marrakech, in particular, was a popular destination for travelers from around the world. But today, residents fear seeing their main source of income disappear.
Although professionals in the sector have reported for the moment an absence of a wave of cancellations, the situation remains worrying. Tourism had already been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with tourist numbers falling 80% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Morocco had started to recover in 2021, but the earthquake has now compromised this fragile revival of activity.
The Marrakech region, already very touristy, is particularly affected. While the city itself was relatively preserved, the mountainous regions to the south were severely damaged. These areas, very popular with hikers and trekkers, welcomed many tourists each year.
The damage is considerable, not only to homes, but also to villages and tourist infrastructure. While travel agencies reported few cancellations, many planned stays in this region were redirected to other provinces spared by the earthquake.
Beyond the urgency of finding survivors and restoring security, the question of the return of tourists to these mountainous regions will arise in the coming months. It will also be necessary to support residents deprived of their main source of income and participate in the reconstruction of destroyed tourist infrastructure.
In this difficult situation, Morocco will be able to count on the support of its diaspora. For several years, Moroccans living abroad have represented nearly half of the tourists visiting the country each year. The Moroccan government has also put in place initiatives to encourage domestic tourism, with nearly 8 million visitors from the diaspora in 2021, more than before the pandemic.
Despite the challenges facing the Moroccan tourism sector, the resilience and solidarity of tourism stakeholders will make it possible to overcome this crisis. It will be essential to support affected regions, promote reconstruction and redouble efforts to attract tourists to revive the economy and help local communities rebuild.. Morocco, with its natural beauty and cultural richness, will continue to be a popular destination, driven by the desire to bounce back after this ordeal.