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Weekly highlights

Tourism in Marrakech: No respite for Ramadan

n Holiday calendars overlap

n Easter, Passover, Semana
Santa… opportunities to fill
hotels

n Hoteliers expect a good month Despite the crisis, Europeans are still hungry for travel. And this year,
their holidays coincide with Ramadan. From April 2 to 8, it is Semana
of April Santa for the Spaniards, and many people plan to spend their holidays in
Marrakech. The Spanish and French calendars overlap since the Easter
holidays start from April 2 and extend until May 9 depending on the
T HE city will not be idle during school zones (A, B, C, and Corsica). And last but not least, the Jewish holi-
Ramadan, the month of April
days, in this case Passover, start this year on April 5th and will last until
being one of the best months
the 13th of the same month. Hoteliers on your marks!
of the year. First of all, the
hotels in the city of Marrakech have took advantage of celebrations, and Marrakech is posi-
taken advantage of the Moroccan the respite offered tioned very well in this segment. Most
school holidays to attract residential during this sacred hotels have designed special programs
customers who, depending on their month to renovate to accommodate religious Jews. These
means and budgets, opt either for their establishments prospects for the month of April are
holiday clubs, 5-star hotels or even or carry out work to not surprising. Since the start of 2023,
Airbnb-type accommodation. These extend their units. indicators have all been green, whether
contingents of national holidayma- Nothing will happen in terms of arrivals, overnight stays or
kers who leave on March 19 will this year. Tourism occupancy rate. In two months, the city
very quickly be replaced by European in the ocher city no received more than 430,000 tourists in
families, who also go out on school longer experiences classified tourist establishments (Three-
holidays from April 2. Despite the Eu- seasonality, espe- to-five-star tourism establishments)
ropean crisis, families want to travel cially among tour which achieved 1.25 million overnight
and reservations are numerous even operators. Moreo- stays. Hotels display an average occu-
if these holidays coincide with Rama- ver, “the success of pancy rate. Going back to 2019, the
dan. Thus, from April 2, the Spanish Marrakech, throu- reference year, the total nights spent in
Semana Santa will start and theoreti- ghout the year of tourist three-to-five-star tourism esta-
cally family groups will take over and post-covid recovery blishments in February recorded an
spend their holidays in Marrakech un- months ago. The fact remains that last has certainly had a increase of 8% compared to February
til April 8. They should be followed by minute clients are still to be accounted positive ripple effect on the month of 2019 and 12% in terms of arrivals.
French tourists and families who will for. They sometimes represent 20% Ramadan”, comments a local hotelier. The occupancy rate for February 2023
be on Easter vacation. Note that reser- of arrivals in Marrakech. There was a The niche of Jewish religious tourism changed by 3 points compared to Fe-
vations and sales related to the Eas- time when hoteliers and restaurateurs will also be in turmoil since the month bruary 2019.o
ter holidays were concluded several took time off during Ramadan. They of April coincides with the Passover Badra BERRISSOULE

Friday 24 March 2023