Tourism: Closed hotels looking for new owners
In a number of towns and cities, a certain number of 3-to-5 star hotels have gone out of business. They have closed because of difficulties in paying their debts to the tax authorities, the Social Security Agency (CNSS), and to other institutions. This disaster was the subject of an oral question in the House of Representatives last Monday. Clearly, faced with the closure of these hotels, the Minister of Tourism has not been idle. In fact, she is working to reopen them and get them up and running again. Fatim-Zahra Ammor began this major recovery operation in the cities of Agadir and Ouarzazate, where a high percentage of hotels were closed, before extending it to other regions. The methodology chosen by the Minister focuses on three fundamental pillars, the first one of which concerns support to attract investors with investment expertise in this type of hotel. To this end, transfer operations have begun, through the announcement of invitations to tender or direct contact with investors. In Agadir, 13 hotels have already contacted investors. As far as Ouarzazate is concerned, 10 others have followed the same procedure. Contracts have been signed with international investors for the financial restructuring and reopening of these hotels. These investors include Pickalbatros, TUI and ABS Hospitality. The second priority is to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund. An announcement will be made shortly on the creation of specialized tourism funds. The third priority is the new Investment Charter, which will offer attractive incentives to investors. This operation is of crucial importance, particularly in view of the international events that Morocco plans to organize over the next few years.
The Minister of Tourism spoke of the measures hotels had benefited from as part of the emergency plan, including support worth 1 billion dirhams (USD 100 million). The aim was to support hotels in restarting their activities under better conditions following the Covid-19 pandemic, which had brought the tourism sector to a standstill.
The marketing of Morocco’s image as a tourist destination was not forgotten. The National Moroccan Tourism Board (ONMT), which will be transformed into an agency, launched a promotional campaign under the new label «Morocco, land of lights «in 20 countries simultaneously. «As part of this, we are also running digital promotional campaigns in the various tourist-sending markets, doing so through social media» , noted the Minister.
Mohamed CHAOUI
