The recovery rate of tourism in Morocco reached 80% at the end of October 2022. Globally the tourism recovery stands at 70%. The data were announced by Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism.
Tourism revenues are doing even better: 103% at the end of September compared to the pre-Covid period.
For the Minister, the positive results of the tourism sector testify to the good management of the crisis of the pandemic which the Kingdom has shown and which has thus allowed reinforcing the credibility of Morocco at the international level.
"They are also the result of the support devoted by the State to the sector within the framework of the emergency plan, marketing operations, promotion and guarantee of a large number of seats for the national tourist destinations", reported the minister.
The executive had mobilized 2 billion dirhams (about US$ 187 million) to support the tourism recovery; half of the amount was allocated to the rehabilitation of the hospitality sector. The Ministry has supported 737 accommodation establishments in order to reopen their doors to tourists and welcome them in the best conditions with a total subsidy estimated at 868 million dirhams (about US$ 81 million).
Regarding the postponement of repayments of bank loans with interest during the period of cessation of work, 821 applications have been filed with the Ministry while it has received 1,345 applications in connection with the business tax of tourist accommodation.
Some 40,000 employees in the sector have also benefited from an extension of the allowance (2,000 dirhams) for the first three months of the year 2022. The same number of employees benefited from the deferral of payment of contributions due to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) for a period of 6 months.
The department of Fatim-Zahra Ammor is now focusing on rural tourism which is experiencing "increased demand from both foreign and Moroccan tourists. The ministry is working on two main axes which are the elaboration of studies and the setting up of programs for the development of the tourist potential of the rural world, via the Moroccan Society of Tourist Engineering (SMIT - MSTE), in consultation with the local partners, then the realization of partnerships with the various actors for the realization of these programs.