Taroudant is known for being a popular destination for lovers of ecological and mountain tourism. It welcomes tens of thousands of tourists from different regions of the world every year, thanks in particular to an attractive infrastructure and natural and historical sites.
Since the beginning of last week, Taroudant has experienced a significant influx of tourists from different nationalities, who have maintained their plans to visit the region, which confirms their confidence in the ability of the region, and the entire country, to overcome the repercussions of the earthquake.
In statements to MAP, tourism professionals affirmed that the hotel units and riads of the province show significant occupancy rates, dispelling the fears of tourist operators about a possible impact of the earthquake on the province.
In this regard, the president of the Provincial Tourism Council, Aziz Niama, stressed that reservations at all tourist units, riads and guest houses in the province of Taroudant are currently increasing, adding that tourist activity has been boosted by the large influx of Moroccan citizens who have come from all over the country to express their solidarity with the local population.
Jean Baptiste, manager of a riad in Taroudant, said that the activity of his tourist establishment was not too impacted by the repercussions of the earthquake which struck several regions of the province.
He indicated, in a statement to MAP, that at the beginning, the earthquake raised fears, certainly, but this did not have repercussions on the reservations of tourists regarding his tourist unit, adding that there were no cancellations for the months of September and October.
This professional expressed his optimism about the future of tourism in the province of Taroudant, stressing that the disaster, despite its tragic side, gave a good image of Morocco, particularly thanks to the surge of solidarity shown by citizens. “This ordeal also presented Taroudant as a beautiful historic city, which recovered very quickly from the effects of the earthquake,” he continued.
For his part, Tourkia, a guesthouse owner, said that the authorities’ effective response to the effects of the earthquake encouraged many tourists to visit the region just days after the natural disaster.
She believes that the heroic epics of the rescue teams and the different components of the Moroccan people, in addition to the activism of local civil society, have strengthened the attractiveness of the province.
Approached by MAP, tourists affirmed, in turn, that they maintained their choice of the destination of Taroudant in particular because of the surge of solidarity that they observed through the media, in addition to the rapid reaction of the authorities immediately after the earthquake.
It should be noted that other tourists, who were present in the province at the time of the disaster, decided to extend their stay there as a show of solidarity with the inhabitants, and convinced of the ability of Moroccans to recover from this ordeal very quickly.
2024-08-17 21:31:42