Authorities reimpose Hammam closures amid professional woes

Authorities have directed hammam owners in several Moroccan cities to close their establishments for three days each week, effective immediately.

This measure, which had been suspended during Ramadan, has been reinstated as part of efforts to manage water consumption.

The decision has sparked frustration among hammam owners, who argue that it exacerbates their financial difficulties, especially given the already low foot traffic during the summer months.

Previously, the prefectural authorities had lifted the closure measure for the duration of Ramadan. Abdelouafi Laftit, the Minister of the Interior, clarified that the closure applies to all types of hammams and aims to address periods of lower demand. According to Laftit, similar measures have previously yielded positive results in terms of water conservation.

Laftit also noted that the improvement in the country’s water situation warranted a renewed discussion among regional leaders and industry professionals to tailor the measure to local conditions.

Othman Noudi, who owns a popular hammam in Tangier, told Hespress that local officials informed him of the renewed closure directive on Sunday. Noudi expressed concern that the closure would deepen the sector’s financial woes, pointing to already high rental costs and employee salaries amid low summer patronage. He criticized the decision as counterproductive, arguing that it fails to address the broader water crisis effectively.

Before Ramadan, the hammam sector had already been struggling due to the three-day weekly closure. Noudi suggested that such measures are unlikely to resolve the water crisis and warned of potential negative impacts on employment within the sector.

Industry experts are concerned that the reimposition of the closure could further strain hammam businesses and their ability to meet payroll amid dwindling customer numbers.