Experts say it is still possible to travel to Morocco after the historic earthquake, but only northern areas should be visited.
The earthquake in Morocco, described as "the most devastating in over 60 years," has significantly impacted tourism in the North African nation. CNN provides an update on what travelers should be aware of if they are currently planning a trip to Morocco.
The epicenter of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck last Friday night was in the High Atlas Mountains, about 166 km southwest of the heritage city of Marrakech in central Morocco, in the Al Haouz province. This is also where the highest number of casualties occurred.
Marrakech was severely affected by the earthquake, with many historical buildings suffering extensive damage. From September 11th, all historical sites in Marrakech, including the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, and the El Badi Palace, were closed.
Ancient buildings in Marrakesh were destroyed by the earthquake, as seen in this photo taken on September 9. Photo: Reuters
The High Atlas Mountains region has suffered the most severe damage, and travel experts are advising tourists against visiting at this time. Many hotels have been heavily damaged, with some forced to close. Bilal El Hammoumy, CEO of Inclusive, a tour operator in Morocco, said a large number of tourists are inquiring about the situation in the High Atlas. El Hammoumy's company is advising visitors planning to travel to Morocco in September to change their itineraries and visit destinations in the north of the country instead.
Regular pick-up locations
Abdelilah El Khadir, a receptionist at the Tour Hassan Palace hotel in the northern capital Rabat, said the situation in most cities across Morocco "remains stable".
Coastal resort towns like Essaouira and Agadir also experienced strong tremors, but suffered no damage. Casablanca and Fez, located about 482 km northeast of Marrakech, also felt the shaking but were not severely affected.
Zina Bencheikh, CEO of Intrepid Travel, a Morocco-based travel company, said that with the exception of the High Atlas Mountains and central Marrakech, most other locations remain unaffected by tourism disruptions. Visitors can still visit Casablanca, Fez, and Chefchaouen when traveling north, or Ait Benhaddou or the Dades Valley in the south.
Unaffected by the earthquake, tourism activities in the city of Fez continue as usual. Photo: Zdenek Kazr
Taxis, buses, trains, planes, and other transport services continued operating after the earthquake. Airports reopened, and flights resumed as scheduled, including to Marrakech.
Meryem Ameziane, a tour guide in the city of Fez, said that tours are still proceeding as planned. She hasn't had to cancel any tours since the earthquake.
"The northern region was unaffected by the earthquake, and traffic between cities is normal. This is the beginning of the peak tourist season in Fez," Ameziane said.
The female tour guide added that many popular Moroccan destinations such as Merzouga, Skoura, and parts of the Sahara Desert were "safe and sound".
The Middle Atlas Mountains to the north, unaffected by the earthquake, lie approximately 643 km from the epicenter. This location offers many similar experiences to the High Atlas, allowing visitors to experience rural Moroccan life and Berber culture.
Despite the somber atmosphere that hangs over the High Atlas and Marrakech, Meryem Ameziane believes that tourism workers in other regions should not "feel guilty or ashamed" about continuing to welcome tourists. Continuing tourism business in other areas is also a way to support the victims of the historic earthquake.
The tour company adjusted the itinerary.
Tourists planning to visit Morocco in September should carefully discuss their itinerary with their tour operator. Immediately after the earthquake, the travel company Intrepid canceled all trips to Morocco this week to monitor the situation. The company has now resumed departures from September 14th, but adjusted itineraries, canceled activities in downtown Marrakech, and rerouted High Atlas mountain tours. World Expeditions, a company specializing in mountain climbing tours, also canceled and rerouted High Atlas trekking trips.
Currently, the US State Department has not advised travel to Morocco. The UK Foreign Office has also not offered any advice on whether or not to travel to Morocco at this time. Travelers should closely monitor information from their tour companies. Additionally, travelers should check with their airlines for any changes or cancellations.
Tourism workers in Morocco are looking forward to visitors.
Vanessa Branson, a hotel owner in Marrakech, said that the cessation of tourists visiting Morocco would significantly impact the livelihoods of locals and businesses dependent on tourism. "Tourists bring hope for the recovery of the country's tourism industry after the pandemic," Branson said.
Bilal El Hammoumy said, "Those suffering the consequences of the earthquake rely on tourism for their income." Not only in the High Atlas and Marrakech, but many other regions in Morocco depend on tourism. He fears tourists will "stay away" from Morocco for fear that the earthquake will cause further damage to the country's economy , "three times more devastating" than the period when tourism was disrupted by the pandemic.
"We encourage people from all over the world to visit this coming fall so that tourism in Morocco can quickly recover from the disaster," said the CEO of tour operator Inclusive.
Bencheikh, CEO of Intrepid Travel, said the earthquake occurred during one of the busiest months for the tourism industry, and many companies providing services feared the natural disaster would deter tourists from visiting Morocco. "The country needs tourism more than ever as it rebuilds," Bencheikh said.
Bich Phuong (According to CNN)
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