Africa: Morocco’s tourism declines by 53.8%, loss $4.77 Billion due to COVID-19 impact

Morocco’s tourism revenue declined by 53.8% in 2020 after an increase of7.8% in 2019.

According to moroccoworldnews.com, the statistics represent a loss of MAD 42.4 billion ($4.77 billion), the Directorate of Studies and Financial Projections announced on Monday.

The statement reported on a “significant slowdown in the pace of decline recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020,” which reached -46.1%.

In the previous quarter, the same indicator recorded a -80.1% thanks to the relaxation of the COVID-19-induced lockdown measures as of September 2020.

The volume of tourist arrivals in Morocco decreased by 78.9% at the end of November 2020 compared to an increase of 5.3% during the first eleven months in 2019.

The number of overnight stays also dropped by 72.3% after an initial increase of 5.2%.

International data show that COVID-19 crisis and the shutdown of brothers overseas crippled the global economy.

According to the World Tourism Organization, the flow of tourists decreased by 74% in 2020, showing that the Asia-Pacific region is the worst-hit region by the pandemic.

The Middle East and Africa recorded a decline of (75%) of tourist arrivals. Following are Eurpe (70%), and the Americas (69%).

Morocco’s government has been reporting on the economic crisis due to COVID-19 since the shutdown of borders.