Maintaining the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Marrakech would give a much-needed push of support to Morocco’s earthquake-affected tourism sector, tourist operators say. Morocco’s central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri said at a preparatory conference in Rabat that the annual meetings are still planned for October 9-15. In the aftermath of the earthquake, many tourists cancelled their bookings in Marrakech and its surroundings out of panic. Holding the IMF-WB annual meetings would send a message of reassurance as at least 15,000 people are expected to stay in Marrakech hotels during the event. The best way for the two institutions to help Morocco would be to hold the event in Marrakech as planned.
