Despite being hit by an earthquake on September 8, Morocco’s tourism sector remains optimistic about recovery. The optimism is shared by key figures in the industry, including Fatim-Zahra Ammor, the tourism minister, James Wix (NASDAQ:), director of Le Farnatchi Hotel, and Aziz Begdouri, owner of La Maison Blanche hotel.
The earthquake significantly impacted the High Atlas (NYSE:) mountains and Marrakech, two major tourist destinations in the country. Despite these challenges, Morocco, which contributes 7% of its GDP to tourism, anticipated a robust year with expectations of hosting 14 million visitors in 2023. This projection was backed by a surge in tourists and $5.6 billion revenue recorded in the first seven months of the year.
In addition to regular tourist influx, several high-profile events are expected to draw global attention to Morocco. These include meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, as well as the 2030 football World Cup.
Government support during the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of a new e-visa system for Israeli tourists have also contributed to the sector’s resilience. Abdellatif Chebaa, head of the tourist guide association, confirmed the sector’s recovery post-Covid.
Ammor unveiled a $600 million government-funded plan to diversify tourism offerings in Morocco. This comes after $8 billion investment commitments were made in 2022 with the aim of boosting tourism.
As part of these efforts to diversify and enrich its tourism sector, Morocco opened Beit Yehuda museum in Tangier. The museum is dedicated to preserving the city’s Jewish history, showcasing Morocco’s commitment to cultural diversity.
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