Errachidia - One of the popular tourist destinations in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, Merzouga, which has been hard hit by the economic consequences of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, is banking on domestic tourism to revive the sector.

The pandemic of the new Coronavirus has caused a significant decline in tourist activity in this charming region of Morocco known for its splendid desert and its magnificent golden sand dunes.

"The sudden and rapid decline in foreign tourist arrivals has had negative consequences on revenue, a situation that affects all professionals in the tourism sector in Merzouga," Lahcen Ougharas, owner of a hotel unit in Merzouga, told Planet of Morocco. this region.

Marzouga is one of the world tourist destinations which annually hosts several international tourist, cultural and sporting activities such as the Aïcha des Gazelles Rally which was canceled this year due to Covid-19, he recalled.

Internal tourism can breathe new life into tourism in Merzouga, a region that offers breathtaking panoramas and wonderful tourist accommodation for tourists eager for camel rides or desert excursions.

The deconfinement and the easing of travel restrictions will help revive the sector and encourage Moroccans to travel to Merzouga, continued Mr. Ougharas.

“We have decided to lower prices and readapt our tourist offers in order to attract Moroccan tourists,” he continued.

"We call on those responsible for the sector to think of various solutions, in order to promote the revival of tourist activity and allow Merzouga to return to the levels before the crisis caused by Covid-19," said Mr. Ugharas.

Mustafa Mbarki, owner of a bivouac in Merzouga, indicated, for his part, that professionals in the tourism sector "suffered a lot" since the appearance of the new Coronavirus in Morocco.

"Unlike the past few years, our business suffered great financial losses. In 2020, tourism was hit hard," Mbarki said.

In Merzouga, foreign tourism remains the main source of income and forms the backbone of this flagship destination in Morocco.

"For external tourism, activity is at a standstill, while professionals have made significant investments to launch new tourist projects", which could not be made profitable, noted Mr. Mbarki.

Losses in the tourism sector as a result of the new Coronavirus crisis reached 18.3 billion dirhams (MMDH) at the end of the first seven months of 2020, i.e. a drop in revenue of 44.1%, according to the Department of Studies and Research. financial forecasts (DEPF).

For the month of July alone, the decline in these receipts was 90.1%, indicates the DEPF in its September economic report, adding that tourist arrivals and overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments were down, at the end of June 2020, by 63.5% and 59.1% respectively.

In order to limit the harmful impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the tourism sector and to accelerate its recovery, a program contract of 21 measures, covering the period from 2020 to 2022, was signed on August 3, combining actors public and private at national and regional level to restore pre-crisis performance.