The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund have reached a decision. The two organizations are to hold their annual meetings in Marrakech as planned, much to the relief of tourism professionals. These are good news in these gloomy times, and above all a strong signal to all institutions and companies to maintain their confidence in Morocco and Marrakech as a destination.
«In reality, despite the natural disaster, we have never doubted Morocco’s capacity and potential», comments Hamid Bentahar, President of the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) and President of the National Tourism Confederation (CNT). «We were able to measure confidence in Marrakech in the aftermath of the earthquake, with individual tourists who insisted on planning their trip to the Ochre City. This confidence was expressed by the TOs who continued to sell Marrakech and maintained flights, and today it is expressed by the major institutions who are maintaining their meetings». It is true that tourism professionals in Marrakech and other cities haven’t given up, just as they do with every crisis, explaining and raising awareness among their partners of the destination’s stability, even after an earthquake. This has always borne fruit. For Lahcen Zelmat, hotelier and president of the national federation of the hotel industry (FNIH), this decision to maintain the event will enable Marrakech to avoid two months of crisis - as happened in Turkey - and massively resume the activity that has never ceased. «It is also a boost for tourism, which needs a great deal of support and, above all, optimism», insists Zelmat. The WB/IMF AGMs will take place one month after the earthquake that struck the province of Al Haouz, 70 kilometers from Marrakech, and once again confirm the confidence of the two international institutions in the Kingdom’s resilience and ability to cope with the crisis situations it has demonstrated in recent years. «The timing of the meetings, from October 09 to 15, is perfect to kick-start the October season, which has been known since the dawn of time for the resumption of Mices (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Events)» , says Mustapha Amalik, hotelier and Secretary General of the Regional Association of the Hotel Industry of Marrakech-Safi (ARIH). From October 09 to 15, 2023, Marrakech will be the host city for this major annual meeting of international finance, welcoming finance ministers and central bank governors from 189 member countries. Morocco’s hosting of these Annual Meetings is recognition by both institutions of King Mohammed VI’s leadership and of the major progress achieved by the Kingdom over the past 24 years. The event confirms Morocco’s return to the African continent, 50 years after the event was held in Kenya in 1973.. .
Badra BERRISSOULE
