Ninty billion dirhams of hard currency that foreign tourism generates for Morocco was lost amid the travel bans and covid-19 restrictions that plagued the last two years, said Minister of Tourism, Fatima Zahra Ammor.
Tourists arriving in Morocco decreased by 79 percent in 2020 and 71 percent in 2021 compared to 2019.
The Government Council allowed the air borders to reopen on February 7, but a lengthy list of conditions imposed on travelers might discourage travel to the North African country that relies heavily on tourism.
To patch up the effects of two years of border closures, the government approved mid-January an emergency plan amounting to 2 billion dirhams to support foreign tourism.
Measures include the extension of the payment of the fixed compensation of 2,000 MAD during the first quarter of 2022, for all employees of the tourism sector, tourist transporters, and classified restaurants, as well as the postponement of charges due to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) for 6 months for these employees.
“The ministry, through the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), has developed a program based on partnerships with international tour operators such as Global Caravan and FTI Touristik and airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia, as well as various means of marketing promotion, including digital platforms,” Ammor said.
She said 35 agreements have been concluded with 15 partners to encourage an influx of foreign tourists after the opening of the borders.
She also announced the preparation of campaigns to promote the destination “Morocco” worldwide.
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