Impacts of sanitary and regulatory restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on Morocco’s tourism industry

Abstract

Tourism has grown steadily and diversified more and more, to become one of the most dynamic economic sectors in the world. Tourism in Morocco is a strategic sector and a backbone of its national economy, given its capacity to create wealth, employment and foreign exchange. However, tourism is a fragile sector and very sensitive to the international situation (natural disasters, socio-political and economic crises, etc.). The health crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all links in the tourism chain. It is an unprecedented shock that has disrupted the tourism sector and has led to new rules of the game. Indeed, COVID-19 has forced public authorities to impose sanitary and regulatory restrictions to stop its dissemination. These restrictions change the rules of the game and thus influence the supply and demand of tourism.