The Moroccan citizen is the first customer of hotel establishments since he contributes to 34% of the total number of overnight stays nationally. This was announced by the Minister of Tourism, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, before the House of Councillors. An opportunity for her to rectify a misconception about the use of domestic tourism in case of scarcity of international tourists. In 2019, it accounted for one third of revenue, or 41 billion DH.
Figures at the end of August showed a 77% drop in the number of tourists at border crossings and a 67% decline in overnight stays in classified hotels. The decline in revenue is 54% compared to 2019.
Despite the current difficult context, the summer season was marked by a good attractiveness of several tourist resorts such as Agadir, Saidia, Dakhla, Ifrane, Mdiq and Findeq. A detailed study was conducted last January to review the offer to adapt it to the demands of local tourists. “In order to give it the place it deserves”, this department has set up a work plan for its promotion. An initiative was launched in partnership with the regional and provincial tourism councils, through promotional videos showing the country’s tourism potential, including that of the rural world.
Worker Support
Signed on August 6th, the contract-program of revival of the sector gives an important part to the domestic tourism. It includes several components such as the development of products that meet the needs of Moroccan tourists. In addition, a program of promotion and marketing is being implemented.
In her reaction to the remarks of the parliamentarians, the Minister recalled the revision of the classification so as to allow the reinforcement and clarification of the offer of domestic tourism. She cited the clubs and residences as accommodation establishments oriented towards this tourism. In addition, it is a question of submitting the opening of any accommodation establishment to an authorization of exploitation, granted after obtaining a provisional classification and the respect of the various rules of social and sanitary distancing. The idea is to set up a new methodology for the classification of the operation, which will make it possible to control the quality and evaluation of services. It will be a question of control of hotel establishments by confidential clients accredited to the administration. An approach that has proven itself internationally.
Nadia Fettah cited the main achievements and measures taken within the framework of the program contract. Thus, the decree allowing tourist guides to have medical coverage after so many years of waiting was published in the Official Bulletin. Other actions of an economic nature have been carried out, the most important of which relates to the support of the workers of the sector. This was done through the granting of a lump-sum indemnity of 2,000 DH for the benefit of employees. In the same way, the suspension of the payment of social contributions was extended, in particular in favor of the CNSS. Idem for the exemptions in terms of additional indemnities granted to employees and the delays of payment of debts relating to the Damane Oxygène guarantee for the benefit of tourist companies. This is also the case for the implementation of three new guarantee mechanisms from which more than 1,100 tourist businesses
have benefited so far. Moreover, the execution of the provisions of the program contract has started since the employees of the sector have started to receive monthly financial assistance which will be deployed until next December.
Crafts is a sector that has suffered from the effects of this pandemic. The ministry in charge has mobilized its central and territorial administration in order to support operators to benefit from financial aid as well as the measures taken in this field. A field study carried out in May showed that part of their grievances are related to access to interest-free credit and support for electronic marketing. In addition, listening mechanisms have been put in place and made available to them. Nadia Fettah, who is in charge of the project, was keen to support the production units and spaces. The objective is to set up conditions for health safety in the workplace that meet the standards recommended by the competent authorities.
A call for volunteers to support the cooperatives in the preparation of flexible identities and to support their commercial capacities has been initiated. The idea is to upgrade them to access the e-marketplace. Thus, more than 300 requests have been received from volunteers from companies, associations, teachers and experts. More than 870 cooperatives were able to take advantage of these free services.
The Ministry launched the initiative “in solidarity with cooperatives” to find points of sale during this exceptional period, especially after the cancellation of fairs and exhibitions. This was done in partnership with civil society actors and the private sector and has yielded satisfactory results for the beneficiary cooperatives. Sewing cooperatives have obtained free certification to contribute to the production of protective masks, according to the standards approved at the national level and this in coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Imanor and the Higher Institute of Textile and Clothing Industry.
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