Moroccan hotels and tour operators are urging tourists to return to Marrakesh, as the country depends heavily on tourism.
The tourism industry represents an average 7% of its GDP and provides an estimated 565 000 jobs (or 5% of total employment).
The country was expecting a return to pre-pandemic levels this year, however, the recent earthquake has changed things.
The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Atlas Mountains, a popular tourist destination. The mountains’ sparse hotels and hiking trails will be closed to tourists indefinitely due to damage and instability, and many isolated villages in the area have faced devastating damage, reported thenationalnews.com.
The oldest parts of Marrakesh were severely affected by the earthquake including the Medina, the capital of the Almoravid Empire built around the 12th century, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Souvenir shops and market stalls in the city have struggled with broken stock, said Laila Lamb, owner of a travel and events company in Morocco. She said many markets and other events in Marrakesh had been cancelled or postponed, hindering retail tourism.
Charlie Shepherd, the British owner of Epic Travel, a custom tour operator in Morocco and Portugal, said the mountains were where many of the company’s tours were hosted, and encouraged visitors to not abandon their trips.
Other operators in Marrakesh have postponed tours in the region and are offering their clients refunds.
Epic Travel only received one cancellation, however Shepherd said this was due to the company’s niche tour groups and close communication with its clients.
“There are definitely cancellations coming in elsewhere, which is to be expected,” he added. “I think hotels will get hit quite badly by that. They don’t have the chance to speak to people, and that’s key.”
Philomena Schurer Merckoll, a hotelier with Riad Mena, emphasised how dependent Marrakesh was on tourism for its economy. According to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, the tourism industry contributed about 11% to Morocco’s GDP in 2022, worth a total value of MAD145,7 million (R272m).
“Obviously, the worry is that people will cancel their trips to Marrakesh," says Merckoll. "The best way to support the people is to keep your trips as planned and support local businesses from hotels to the artisans in the souqs."
Hotels in the city are open for business, however some new hotels, including Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakesh and Nobu Hotel Marrakech, have sustained minor damage. El Fenn Hotel, a luxury accommodation in the Medina, also reported damage and has closed its rooftop venue and boutique until this afternoon, September 13.
The airport in west Marrakesh is operating as normal, although some airlines have cancelled or delayed their flights over the past few days.
Royal Air Maroc and British Airways Holidays are offering free date changes to customers who are travelling up until September 23, and British Airways is offering flights with additional seats for travellers wanting to go home earlier than planned.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is advising travellers to contact their Moroccan accommodation providers, tour operators and flight providers to confirm arrangements before departure in case of disruptions or damage.
However, tourism business owners in Morocco, including Lamb and Shepherd are focusing on donation and humanitarian campaigns for money, food, water, beds, tents, trucks, distribution schemes and aid for women and children. Together they have raised more than $20 000 (R378 200) so far.
In the UAE, tour operator Forever Tourism, which offers trips between Dubai and Morocco, is planning promotional packages for its clients to help attract visitors back to the region and provide an economic boost to local businesses said owner, Kapil Sahansi.
