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Morocco tourism revenues record 58% decline in first half of 2021

August 24, 2021 at 10:17 am

Tourists walk through the ruins of the ancient Roman site in Morocco [FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images]

Morocco’s tourism revenues have declined by 58.1 per cent in the first half of the year compared to the corresponding period of 2020, local media reported yesterday.

The Moroccan Directorate of Financial Studies and Forecasts (DEPF) said in a report that tourism revenues amounted to 8.8 billion dinars ($1.35 billion) in the first six months of 2021, down from about 18 billion dinars ($2 billion) in the corresponding period of 2020.

On a monthly basis, the directorate which works under the Ministry of Economy said tourism revenues increased by 15.2 per cent in June, compared to May, due to the gradual reopening of the kingdom’s borders in mid-June.

The tourism sector has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 as numerous countries have closed their borders and put in place limitations on international travel.

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