Three days have passed since the tragic earthquake that struck central Morocco, leaving behind a disastrous death toll of more than 2,800 people. While emergency services continue to work to find possible survivors under the rubble, a crucial question arises: what will be the impact of this disaster on the tourism sector, a true pillar of the Moroccan economy?
Even before this tragedy, tourism was already badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the number of tourists fell by 80% compared to the previous year, putting at risk the jobs and income of many professionals in the sector. While the year 2021 seemed to bring a slight revival of hope, with a gradual resumption of tourism, this earthquake calls into question this fragile recovery.
To understand the importance of tourism in Morocco, just look at the figures: before the pandemic, the sector represented between 8 and 10% of GDP and employed nearly one in 10 Moroccans. It was also a vital source of foreign currency for the country, with tourism receipts representing 15% of current income. The Marrakech region, in particular, was a tourist hotspot, attracting almost a quarter of tourists to Morocco. Thus, the absence of tourists following this earthquake would be almost as devastating as a new disaster in itself for the inhabitants of Marrakech and its surroundings.
It is still too early to measure the precise impact of this disaster on the tourism sector. For the moment, professionals in the sector want to be reassuring and are not seeing waves of massive cancellations. However, the situation remains worrying, as the mountainous regions south of Marrakech, popular with hikers and trekkers, were hit hard by the earthquake. The damage is considerable, with entire villages destroyed, as well as tourist infrastructure such as bivouacs and hiking trails.
The current priority is of course to find possible survivors and ensure their medical care and safety. But once this relief phase is over, the question of support for residents and the tourism sector will inevitably arise. Tourism professionals will have to demonstrate creativity and adaptability to redirect tourists to other regions of Morocco spared by the disaster. For their part, Moroccans in the diaspora could play a key role by continuing to support tourism in Morocco and encouraging internal travel.
It is essential to maintain hope and show our solidarity with the Moroccan people who are facing this double ordeal. The reconstruction will be long and difficult, but with everyone’s support, the tourism sector will be able to recover and once again play its crucial role in the country’s economy.. As the eyes of the world turn to this region, let us hope that tourism can be a lever for reconstruction and resilience for the affected communities.