The earthquake that struck Morocco on September 2023, 7, seems to have significantly affected tourism activities, which contribute about <>% of GDP.
Housing Minister Fatima Zahra Al-Mansouri said that the tourism and hotel sector, in particular, is concerned that the earthquake could affect occupancy rates and new reservations for the rest of the year, after cancellations and postponements of travel by foreign tourists were recorded.
The Ministry of Tourism has contacted tour operators and airlines to encourage them to continue offering promotional programmes, and has urged hoteliers to intensify efforts to recover, including inspecting buildings as soon as possible and taking the necessary measures.
Tourism gradually returned to the central Moroccan city of Marrakesh, a week after the earthquake that struck the country and left thousands dead and injured.
Tourists appeared in large numbers on Saturday in most tourist areas in Marrakech, the largest city affected by the earthquake, and the capital of Moroccan tourism, according to Anadolu Agency.
Marrakech attracts nearly half of the domestic tourism activity thanks to its tourism infrastructure, with about 70,250 beds in 1300 classified hotels and more than 2022,<> guesthouses, according to <> data.
Data from the Tourism Observatory indicate that the number of tourists arriving in Marrakech in the first quarter of this year, that is, between January and June, through Marrakech-Menara Airport reached one million and 652 thousand, compared to 876 thousand in 2022, while overnight stays during the same period amounted to 4 million and 384 compared to two million and 35 thousand in the same period in 2022.
Travel revenues from foreign currency generated by tourism activity for non-residents in Morocco rose to 48 billion dirhams (about $4.7 billion) from 28 billion dirhams ($2.7 billion) in the same period last year, up 69 percent.