RABAT —
Moroccan tour operators threatened with
bankruptcy due to border closures protested Tuesday, calling for the tourism
industry to be "saved" as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on
international travel.
اضافة اعلان
About 200 industry workers demonstrated in front of the
tourism ministry in Rabat, demanding the reopening of borders and talks with
the authorities, citing the "dramatic collapse" of the industry in
the wake of the pandemic.
"Have mercy on the economy and the people," one
sign read.
Morocco suspended all passenger flights from November 29
until January 31 as a result of rising infections of the Omicron variant
worldwide.
The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North
African country's vital tourism sector, already on its knees after two lost
seasons because of the pandemic.
Lahcen Zelmat, head of the national federation of the hotel
industry, said the situation for tourism was "catastrophic" and
called for borders to be reopened and bank loan payments to be delayed.
Raja Ould Hamada, the owner of a travel agency in Marrakesh,
said the most recent border closure was a "fatal blow" to the
industry, claiming "other competing countries" such as Egypt, Turkey
and the United Arab Emirates had benefitted.
Rabat recently promised a 2,000-dirham (about $216) monthly
allowance to tourism workers for the final quarter of 2021.
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