The snake-tamed Said returned to her discotheque with his traditional flute in folkloric performances that attract visitors to the famous Jamia al-Fna tourist square in central Marrakech, thrilled after a suffocating crisis caused by the pandemic that has absent tourists for two years from Morocco.
"It's like I'm breathing again, what a joy to be back on the scene after tough months," Bassema told AFP, and then a snake dances to the popular "Gheita" music in the Maghreb countries.
The Red City, morocco's tourism capital, is an indicator of the sector's recovery, as the crowd returns to the alleys of its ancient neighborhoods and various historical landmarks.
During the first quarter of this year, tourism sector revenues increased by nearly 80%, compared to the same period last year. This promises "more positive prospects for 2022," according to recent projections by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
While Morocco received 13 million tourists in 2019, only 3.7 million people flocked to it last year. The sector is vital to the Moroccan economy, representing 7% of GDP in 2019.
"Incomplete" recovery
A few weeks after international flights resumed in early February, Marrakech café docks have regained their vitality in a sunny spring setting, as have traditional clothing stores, ornaments and souvenirs of traditional industries that tourists usually buy.
But the recovery "has not yet reached the pre-pandemic level, even if the situation has been improving for about a month," trader Abdullah Bouazi said in one of the city's old markets, after selling souvenirs to an Argentine tourist.
During the crisis, Abdullah, 35, was forced to give up his business to work as a security guard at a company, such as most workers in the sector who lived in difficult conditions, particularly irregular workers.
To mitigate the effects of the crisis, exacerbated by the complete suspension of flights between the end of last year and the beginning of this year, the Government has allocated 2 billion dirhams (approximately $200 million) in monthly subsidies to workers in the sector. But it only included regulars.
"It was a difficult period, but today I am happy to be back at work," Abdullah said, adding, "I am optimistic about the future."
The Moroccan government has also allocated 1 billion dirhams (about $100 million) in support to hotel owners. But they are calling for other measures to overcome the crisis, particularly in relation to easing restrictions on the entry of travellers into the Kingdom.
"The sector has resumed its activities, but this remains incomplete," explains Hassan Azmat, president of the National Hotel Industry Federation, because of the continued requirement that passengers have a health passport, as well as a negative PCR test for Covid-19 to enter the Kingdom.
But the government finally responded to this demand, announcing tuesday night that the requirement had been abolished. It is "what would encourage foreign tourists to come." This decision should have been made some time ago, but we thank the government anyway," Azmat commented.
A magical legacy.
These measures did not prevent 29-year-old tourist Nick from travelling to Marrakech, and he seemed to enjoy the "charm" of Ibn Yusuf School, one of the historic landmarks of the city that for centuries was the capital of the "Honorable Empire".
"I'm surprised at the accuracy of the architectural details, I missed such trips to discover other cultures," says the young man from London, who is visiting Marrakech for the first time.
The old school dates back to the 16th century during the Saadiya state.
Tourists are also seen in other modern attractions such as the Majorel Gardens and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which is "a key stop" in the exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage City, says young Chinese men Tommy and Coco from Germany.
"We're very lucky to be able to travel again, we're very happy," they say.
تعا
التسميات :
Tourism