Tourism, another casualty of Morocco's devastating earthquake

Morocco hoped this year's tourism season would heal wounds from the COVID crisis. But the earthquake has crushed all hope.

The renowned Oukaimeden resort, once a vibrant hiking and skiing spot, is now devoid of its loyal winter sports enthusiasts after a 6.8 earthquake magnitude ravaged the area on 8 September.

Situated in the High Atlas Mountains, Oukaimeden is one of Africa's highest ski resorts, reaching up to 3,258 meters above sea level. 

The primary draw of Oukaimeden is its winter sports offerings, including skiing and snowboarding, with a range of slopes and chairlifts catering to all skill levels. 

Hassan, a worker in a lodge in the area, says Oukaimden's charm might not be able to break through misfortune caused by the earthquake.

"After the earthquake, over ten people called to cancel their reservations. We are a small guesthouse. Ten cancellations are a big loss for us," explained Hassan to The New Arab.

He said that the guest house was situated 7 km from the resort and "miraculously" survived with minor damages.

However, Hassan worries that it will not survive another slow tourist season. "We barely managed to make it throughout the pandemic. I don't know what we will do now," added Hassan, who says many jobs, including his, are at stake.

According to figures from the Tourism Observatory, the volume of arrivals to the North African country recorded a 92% increase in the first half of 2023. From January to June this year, 6.5 million people visited Morocco, 3 million more than in 2022. 

During the pandemic, Morocco's Ministry of Tourism allocated 1 billion dirhams (US$97,162) to revive the tourism sector, including a US$200 monthly salary for workers in hotels and restaurants. Authorities have not announced a relief plan for the tourism industry after the earthquake.

Is it safe to hike in the Atlas?

Tourists' primary concern is the safety of the surrounding mountains after the devastating disaster. 

Léa, a French amateur skier, was one of the people who decided to prioritize safety and cancel their activities in the quake-hit area. 

"I was devastated to cancel my trip there. I love the area, and the people are the nicest. But it would be a suicide mission to go hiking and king in an area where landslides are still happening," Léa remarked to TNA.

The epicentre of the strongest earthquake to strike a North African country in a century has been located around 35 miles from the Oukaïmeden ski resort.

The aftershocks continued for over two weeks, causing significant landslides and rockfalls. 

"We used to feel them like bombs (aftershocks)," said Nouredin, a local guide in Oukaimeden. "The authorities should issue a report on the safety of the hiking and skiing activities in the area so we can all locals and tourists understand better the situation."

Authorities have yet to address the safety of the region's hiking trails and skiing resorts.

According to locals, many establishments have closed in the province of Al-Haouz, which accounts for 60% of the deaths.

Two hours' drive away, the situation is worse. In Moulay Brahim, 100 Km away from Marrakech. Hotel "Al-Salama" lays in ruins with only its signboard standing. Many other guesthouses were flattened, becoming a path for volunteers entering the village. At least 40 people died in the village. The earthquake killed over 2,900 people, most in Marrakech and Al-Haouz.

Read more on the aftermath of the earthquake in Moulay Brahim village

World Bank meeting revives Marrakech

Arriving in Marrakech, the ambience completely shifts. The city, which suffered medium damages, has managed to stand back swiftly, with most hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants maintaining a steady flow of reservations and customers, say locals.

No hotel has closed in the red city, but a new scenario of the COVID-19 crisis is troubling everyone. 

In the past two years, Marrakech lost 80% of its visitors. The city's economy depends mainly on tourism, as 500,000 people depend on tourism in the prefecture. 

Since the earthquake, regaining trust has become the mantra of tourism professionals.

The confirmation of holding the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank has been welcomed among the locals as a breath of fresh air: 14,000 participants are expected to visit the city from 9 to 15 October.

Experts say the event is expected to generate 100,000 overnight stays, enough to ease the quake's losses.