RABAT - Businesses working in Morocco's key tourism sector say the country's tough COVID-19 restrictions, including a full flight ban, are undermining its competitiveness compared to rival destinations. "These restrictions are unjustified and they have made Morocco lose tourists to Mediterranean competitors such as Egypt and Turkey," said Lahcen Zelmat, head of Morocco's hotel federation. Tourism generated $8 billion, or 7% of Morocco's economy, in 2019, but the Central Bank expects it to have made only $3.6 billion this year. The government has approved a 2,000 dirham ($216) payment to tourism workers registered with social security who have been hit by the crisis. "This aid does not cover businesses and workers who earn their living indirectly from tourism," Onsi said.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 01, 2022 08:23 UTC