The recent pandemic was the most disruptive event to hit the tourism industry in generations. Although many previous disasters, such as natural, health and economic upheavals, have severely affected the sector, none has been as devastating as that of the last two years.

On an international scale, millions of jobs were lost, thousands of companies went bankrupt or were forced to close, and the economic losses for local and national economies were catastrophic.

However, some argue that this terrible situation could open up new perspectives and opportunities to strengthen tourism, making it more resilient in the face of future pandemics and various other natural, climatic and economic risks.

Prior to the pandemic, the famous seaside destination of Agadir and its Souss Massa region enjoyed dynamic tourist activity, with annual growth and a good reputation in the various tourist markets.

This momentum came to an end in 2020, when travel was severely curtailed and travellers feared the potential health hazards associated with foreign destinations. What’s more, many issuing markets such as France, Germany and Spain have imposed strict confinements, making travel to Morocco or elsewhere impossible.

Fortunately, Morocco has been praised for its exemplary management of Covid-19, mobilizing considerable resources to deal with the crisis. In the tourism sector, the Kingdom has launched proactive initiatives such as the “Welcome Safely” program, integrating health and safety standards into tourism businesses to significantly reduce the risk of infection. This has also encouraged domestic travel, which continues to be an important component of the Moroccan tourism industry.