Moroccan hotel professionals have not finished accumulating bad news and are pointing the finger at the government, which would be at the root of the failure of the summer season that is coming to an end. For them, the government bears its share of responsibility in the crisis in the sector, due to many unfulfilled promises.
At the end of the first six months of the year, tourism revenues in Morocco fell by 33.2%, or 11.1 billion dirhams. To limit the negative impact of the health crisis on the tourism sector and accelerate its recovery, a program contract covering the period 2020-2022 has been signed between public and private actors.
This year’s summer will have been the worst summer season for hoteliers in Tangier who were unable to achieve the turnover they expected. The reason is the restrictive measures, including the ban on travel to and from eight cities, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In Marrakech , the hotel industry has been hit hard during the summer season that is coming to an end. The reason is the delay in the implementation of the tourism program contract, the closure of Moroccan borders and the ban on travel to and from eight cities, including the ochre city.
About forty employees of different nationalities have decided to take the Casino Management Group in Tangier to court for unfair dismissal. The public prosecutor’s office was notified last Wednesday.
The new restrictive measures imposed on cafes are not to the liking of professionals in this sector. They blame the authorities for not having involved them in this decision and threaten to go on strike.
A new international brand has set its sights on Marrakech . Its name: Rotana, a hotel management company from the Middle East, which has concluded a management agreement to operate the Palmeraie Resort.
The 2020-2022 program contract, signed on August 6 for the entire tourism value chain, has provided for support for hotel establishments affected by the coronavirus. To benefit from this "Damane Relance hôtellerie" credit, very strict conditions are imposed on hotel establishments.
The Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakech has been sold to the English fund Actis and the Ugandan Moez Mangajli.
After months of lethargy due to the coronavirus, tourism activity is resuming in Tétouan during this summer season, bringing a touch of happiness to hotel and restaurant operators. However, this temporary recovery is far from meeting all expectations.
Hotel establishments, overwhelmed after the resumption of activities, and especially due to the summer holidays running until August, now have to face a shortage of human resources.
Expedia, one of the digital distribution platforms for hotels, would use subterfuges to add to the difficulties of Moroccan hoteliers whose activity has been severely affected by the health crisis.