Tag: Morocco

Creative Ways Moroccans are Supporting Artisans Hit by COVID-19

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With no tourists for the past three months, Morocco’s artisans are feeling the pinch, nowhere more so than in the country’s famed “Ochre City,” Marrakech. In response, organizations and businesses have found innovative ways to support the medina’s creatives through new online marketplaces and social media auctions. 

‘Save the Medina’

Marrakech-based interiors and accessories company Chabi Chic, founded by Vanessa Di Mino and Nadia Noel, has helped popularize Moroccan handicrafts and expertise worldwide thanks to its five Marrakech boutiques and online store. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis which has decimated the local tourism industry, Chabi Chic decided to mobilize its huge online and international following, with the backing of Instagram stars such as Yasmina Olfi (Fashion Mint Tea), to provide a free online platform for medina artisans to sell their wares.

“The borders are closed, and the artisans are dying,” is the simple and stark message Chabi Chic shared with 84,200 Instagram followers on June 22 when they launched the Save the Medina initiative after four long months of COVID-19 confinement. 

Recognizing that it would be almost impossible for many medina shop owners and craftspeople to take their business online, Chabi Chic have stepped in to provide the logistics — item selection, marketing, packaging and shipping — commission-free. 

Chabi Chic have now dedicated a sales area on their website to selling handicraft and interior items directly from makers, who would usually rely on tourists and foot traffic, to the world fuelled by the power of online selling and social media. 

Their “Save the Medina” campaign has been a great success so far, with items shown on Chabi Chic’s Instagram stories selling before they can even make it to the website. 

Meanwhile, the Marrakech Creative Interior Cluster (MCIC) and 1000 Artists have decided to use online auctions of handmade Moroccan goods as a way of raising awareness and money for medina artisans.

‘Marrakech Creative for Love’

MCIC has been advocating and promoting artisanal savoir-faire since 2016, with an emphasis on improving competitiveness and growing regional, national, and international market opportunities for the artisans in the cluster. As soon as COVID-19 hit, they began providing support directly to artisans’ families hardest hit by the crisis, and have to date raised MAD 150,000 ($15,400) through their Instagram auctions. 

“We’ve gauged the importance of supporting the social fabric of the creative sector in Marrakech, and Morocco,” MCIC Communication Director Mathilde Some told Arabia Policy. 

“That’s why we decided to launch the campaign, ‘Marrakech Creative For Love,’ an Instagram page for auctions of creations made in Marrakech, and where all of the money raised will be given to 30 associations who help all the families, with whom, design and creation live in the heart of the Ochre City.” 

MCIC also went with the auction concept as it encourages people to make sustainable, conscientious purchases and raises the profile of the artisans, which they hope will create greater opportunities for Marrakech’s artisans post-COVID-19. 

“It’s been a success, notably thanks to the ever growing number of creators that want to join our campaign,” Some said, adding that MCIC plans to keep evolving the project and next will “shine the spotlight on certain artisans, whose pieces we will then sell directly through our Instagram page.”

1000 Artists

Jihane Boumediane from 1000 Artists also struck upon the idea of running an action in aid of artisans enduring tough circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each item sold through the Instagram page supports Marrakech’s makers by providing a sale for the creator, and any extra money raised above the recommended retail price is donated to an artisan retired, or no longer making an income.

Boumediane has already sent MAD 1,000 ($100) worth of food packages to support elderly, disabled, and retired artisans in the Ourika region, outside of Marrakech. She plans to continue giving food aid to those in need, while also raising the profile of various creatives and collectives operating in and around Marrakech through the 1000 Artists Instagram page. 

Read also: Europe to Reopen Borders to Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Europe to Reopen Borders to Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

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On Friday evening, officials met in Brussels to continue discussions on the list of approved countries the 27 member states of the European Union will reopen their borders to on July 1. 

Among the fourteen countries currently listed are Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. All three countries have large diaspora communities in Europe, members of which regularly travel back to the Maghreb during the summer period. With Eid al-Adha fast approaching, the possibility of passing the celebration with family will no doubt be a source of joy for many in both Europe and the Maghreb. 

The other countries on the list are Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay. 

The EU deemed key European partners including the United States, Russia, and Turkey, not to have the virus sufficiently under control and excluded them from the list. Chinese visitors will be authorized to visit Europe on the condition that China opens its borders to European citizens.

European states will officially adopt this list, which remains subject to modification, on Monday. 

 Tourism in the Maghreb

Tourism is of vital importance to the economies of Morocco and Tunisia with the industry accounting for approximately 20% and 15% of GDP in 2018, respectively. In 2019, Morocco welcomed a record-breaking 13 million visitors.The vast majority of tourists who visit Morocco and Tunisia are European. 

By contrast, tourism remains relatively underdeveloped in Algeria. Last year 2.5 to 3.5 million people visited Algeria, but the majority, according to the tourism ministry, were Algerians living abroad. 

Prior to COVID-19, Algeria announced plans to increase tourism to the country. The country hopes to welcome five million tourists per year by 2025, focusing on wealthier visitors seeking out luxury experiences and adventure tourists. The country also plans to expand the port in Algiers to allow for cruise ships to dock and to develop at least one resort along the Mediterranean coast. 

Under the country’s plans to expand tourism, which will target both European travelers and those from further afield including the United States, China, and Canada, tourism’s share of GDP will triple to 4.5% by 2025. This remains considerably less than the contribution tourism makes to the GDP of Morocco and Tunisia. 

Uncertainty remains for Moroccans and Algerians

Whilst Tunisia reopened its borders earlier today, Morocco and Algeria are yet to confirm a reopening date. Like Tunisia, both countries closed their borders in mid-March in an attempt to stop the importation of the virus from abroad. The state of emergency declared in Morocco, as a result of coronavirus, is in place until at least July 10. 

While Morocco has yet to make an official announcement, Bladi reports that British Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Reilly tweeted earlier this week the borders would reopen on July 10. The tweet is no longer available. 

Moroccan sources have indicated that the borders are likely to reopen after the 10th, however no date has been set. 

There has been no indication from the Algerian government as to when its borders will reopen to tourists.

Fears Mount as Sahel Conflict Moves North

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A man protesting the Algerian government was shot to death in the country’s South as poverty and marginalization are escalating tensions. The village of Tin Zaouatine is home to roughly 4,100 and situated near the border with Mali and Niger in Algeria’s most southern province.

In the sweltering desert heat, protests had erupted when Algerian troops blocked access to the only local water source in the Saharan town, according to the North Africa Post. Why authorities took the drastic act is yet unknown but what is certain is the protests’ bloody aftermath.

The Algerian Defense Ministry denied that forces from the Algerian Army had shot the protester, instead blaming the tragic event on “unknown people targeting border guards.” ObservAlgerie reported that the Algerian government even disputes the location of the shooting, saying the death happened in the nearby Malian town of Ikhraben that borders Tin Zaouatine.

“These events relate to an attempt, carried out by smugglers and organized crime, aimed at deteriorating border security, by fueling violence among local inhabitants,” the Algerian defense ministry stated in a press release. From the language used, it appears the Algerian army is not necessarily denying it shot the man, but lies the blame at the feet of those organizing the protests.

Unrest at Algeria’s borders

The fact that local military forces used live ammunition against Algerian citizens protesting highlights the precarious state of Algeria’s southern border. Algeria’s southern neighbors, Niger and Mali, have both suffered tremendously from conflict in the Sahel that has pitched Berber tribes against government troops.

The borders between Algeria, Mali, and Niger are a remnant of colonialism and fail to take into account the shared culture of the local Berbers who have inhabited the region since antiquity. The wide variety of local Berber tribes are often classified as Tuareg, a definition that has helped awaken a sense of a national culture that supersedes national identity.

The unrest in the region has turned the Sahel into a haven for drug trafficking. Criminal networks are often better organized than the government forces intended to counter trafficking operations. The UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that illegal trade in the Sahel amounts to $3.8 billion every year.

External influence

The UN has made significant efforts to stabilize the region through peacekeeping missions and a UNODC agreement between Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Morocco, Niger, which all have a significant Berber population and border the Sahel region. The World Bank has urged investment in local irrigation to increase agricultural output, but few concrete measures have materialized to improve local living conditions.

Other foreign actors have attempted to benefit from the local sense of insecurity. The UK-based Institute for Global Threats and Democracies Studies (IGTDS) in December, 2019 accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of interfering in the region following Turkey’s intervention in the Libyan conflict. Turkey is now courting the Libyan Tuaregs, who often featured in Muamar Ghaddafi’s internal power struggles, as part of Turkish “ambitions of dominating the MENA-region,” according to the IGTDS.

The Stockholm-based Nordic Research and Monitoring Network went one step further. The NGO called a meeting between Turkish officials and ten prominent Libyan Tuareg leaders an effort to “enlist” Tuareg forces. According to the organization’s website, the efforts intended to extend Turkish influence over vast swaths of the Sahara desert by aligning Turkey with local leaders.

With opposing interests and political differences between many countries in the Sahel region, the question remains whether neighboring countries can prioritize the well-being of their citizens in border regions. Halting drug trafficking in the region depends on government troops that are ill-equipped for the diplomatic conundrum of winning hearts and minds while combating trafficking-networks, one of the few remaining sources of income for the local population.

A Young Person’s View: Photography Confronts Morocco’s Stereotyped Image

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Morocco has captivated travelers and artists for centuries. There are countless books and paintings dedicated to the country’s chaotic souks, diverse landscapes, charming people, and incredible cuisine. However, for some Moroccans these portrayals are tired and do not reflect their everyday reality.  

Among them are a growing number of young Moroccan creatives who want to show a different side of the country, away from souks and tajines. For photographer Ismail Zaidy, it is about moving away from orientalist imagery and presenting a vision of modern Morocco. Zaidy says, “I try to show our culture and our identity in a way that isn’t so ‘traditional.'” 

To do this, Zaidy creates images that place the traditional, often represented by items of clothing such as the djellaba, in bare, modern settings. Zaidy explains, “the photos are taken in Morocco, but it doesn’t have to necessarily look like Morocco, or have art and patterns that people probably associate with Morocco either.” The clean lines and open spaces Zaidy uses are complemented by a palette of light pinks and blues. 

Mous Lamrabat is also mixing the modern and the traditional in photographs that combine elements of North African fashion and culture with logos from large Western corporations. In one image a man holds a watermelon slice, a summer staple in Morocco, shaped as the Nike swoosh. In another, produced during the coronavirus crisis, a man wears a McDonald’s fry packet as a mask. 

 

 

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You want some handgel with that?? #boredomestrikes model: @sefteling

A post shared by Mous Lamrabat (@mouslamrabat) on


A commentary on the pervasiveness of consumerism, Lamrabat’s photographs fuse the artist’s two cultures, Moroccan and European. It is not all serious though, with the artist explaining that there is a deliberate humor to his work: “I love to laugh, it’s my favourite emotion, there is already so much negativity.” 

For Fatima Zohra Serri, who grew up in regional Morocco, her photographs are a means to tackle taboos and the inequality many women in Morocco still face. She says, “addressing women’s rights in my pictures is something that comes from my heart.” The 22-year-old draws her inspiration from her surroundings and the experiences of the women around her. 

In one photograph Serri posted on Instagram, a woman stands with only her bare legs and high heels visible, a mirror on the floor showing her torso’s reflection. The woman is wearing a hijab and loose black robe with her face slightly covered. Titled “The two sides of the same coin,” the image is open to a range of interpretations. 

 

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The two sides of the same coin. . . . . . #vsco #vscox #vscocam #instagram

A post shared by سري | Serri (@fatimazohraserri) on

Perhaps it speaks to the duality of the female experience in Morocco. Many young women are forced to hide their modern lifestyles from conservative family members. Or maybe it is a comment on the objectification women in Morocco face regardless of whether or not they choose to dress conservatively. Serri does not elaborate beyond the title but the overwhelming positive comments suggest the image is well received by fans. 

As growing popularity sees these young artists share their works with larger audiences, the world is getting the opportunity to experience the country through their Moroccan eyes. 

Universal Music Group Expands MENA Operations

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Universal Music Group (UMG) announced on Tuesday that it has expanded its global network operating in over 60 countries to include two new offices in the MENA region, becoming the first major music label to establish offices in Morocco and Israel. 

UMG is the world’s leading music company and is home to some of the largest and most famous labels and brands in the world. Included in UMG’s repertoire are Abbey Road Studios, Capital Music Group, and EMI. 

Artists represented by UMG include The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Queen, Nicki Minaj, Arianna Grande, Nirvana, and Bon Jovi. The depth of experience, marketing opportunities, and networks that the UMG brand will share with local artists could be transformative for the music scenes in Morocco and Israel. 

UMG in Morocco

The company’s Moroccan office is based in Casablanca and will work to ensure that North African artists have exposure to the global market. The office will also develop creative and commercial partnerships and work with Universal Music France (UMF) on key projects. 

UMF already represents a number of French-language artists from the region, including Algerian rapper Soolking and Moroccan rapper Issam. 

Announcing the new offices UMG’s MENA region CEO Patrick Boulos said, “within Morocco and their immediate neighbors, there is a wealth of untapped artist talent and we are excited to introduce these unique sounds to global audiences, platforms and partners.” 

UMG has identified traditional Arabic music and rap music front the Maghreb as core focus areas for the new office. 

UMG in Israel 

In Israel, UMG will be based in Tel Aviv. Incoming UMG Israel CEO Yokam Mokady has big plans for the new office, outlining that “UMG will look to identify, sign and develop the best domestic artist talent.” 

Both offices will work closely with UMG’s regional headquarters in Dubai.

Culture in Crisis: Easing the Burden of COVID-19

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In Abu Dhabi the Louvre has led the way in pioneering digital offerings, creating a diverse range of ways for audiences to engage with the museum’s collections. These offerings include digital tours and talks by artists and curators. 

The museum also created a podcast that uses a sci-fi narrative to explore its futuristic architecture. In May, the museum partnered with streaming service Anghami to launch a series of playlists based on its collections. The playlists contain 20-30 songs each and have been crafted to reflect the era and region of the art presented in the associated exhibition. 

A cultural and artistic hub, Abu Dhabi has a plethora of galleries and art institutions and many have joined Abu Dhabi Louvre in offering online activities, including workshops and film screenings. As previously reported by Arabia Policy, the Sharjah Art Foundation is screening works by female Arab filmmakers throughout June for a virtual audience. 

In Morocco, the Moroccan National Foundation of Museums has mobilized to offer online virtual visits with accompanying explanatory texts to some of the country’s most famous museums. The virtual visits commenced with the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s “In Front of Picasso” collection. 

Beyond museums 

The museums in Morocco are joined by the national library, which is offering free online access to all its e-books, and the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra (OPM), which is streaming concerts on social media, in offering online access to culture and the arts. 

In Egypt, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has launched a series of online guided tours of archaeological sites, in addition to museums. The initiative has the dual purpose of promoting tourism to foreigners and educating Egyptians on their country’s rich history. 

The tours, which are available through the ministry’s social media, include the Menna Tomb in Theban Necropolis and the tomb of Queen Meresankh III. The latter features some of the best preserved examples of burial art. Tours of more contemporary sites, including the Red Monastery, the 14th-century Mosque-Madrassa, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, are also online. 

Socially distant cultural events 

In Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture made sure residents were able to experience the joy of Eid despite the lockdowns through a series of lockdown parades. 

Over 100,000 people enjoyed the parades, which featured traditional Saudi songs and dances such as Ardha, Sahrqi music, folk songs related to fishing and pearl diving, and Eid songs, from their balconies or windows.

As coronavirus lockdowns continue across the region, the ability to explore art and culture online or from a distance is a welcome relief for many.

Morocco Extends State of Emergency, Turkey Further Eases Curbs

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There is hope at the end of the tunnel for Moroccans, after the government said it will begin gradually lifting the country’s three-month-long COVID-19 lockdown. The entire country will remain under a “sanitary state of emergency” but some restrictions will be lifted from Thursday, based on the number of infections in each prefecture or province. 

In an exciting economic development for the North African country, commercial, industrial, and artisanal/handcrafts activities, as well as small businesses and weekly markets, are all authorized to reopen under the first stage of Morocco’s de-confinement plan. As for other measures, the country has been split into two zones with differing restrictions based on their COVID-19 case-load, Morocco’s Ministries for the Interior and Health announced on June 10.  

From June 11, residents in “Zone One,” which includes tourist hot spots such as Agadir, Dakhla, and Chefchaouen will once again be able to move freely without a permit, exercise outdoors alone, access public areas (beaches, parks, gardens) and visit hair and beauty salons. Public transport will recommence at 50% of normal capacity, while other “state of emergency” conditions including a ban on gatherings of any size and compulsory mask-wearing will remain in place.  

There will be little change to the confinement conditions for residents in “Zone Two,” which includes major populations and COVID-19 hotspots Rabat-Sale, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez and Tangier. Residents will still require permission to move about for anything but essential purposes, businesses must close by 8 p.m., and public transport will operate at half capacity, as in Zone 1.  

Cafes and restaurants (excluding takeaway and delivery), hammams, cinemas, theaters, and mosques must all remain closed until further notice. The country only reported 18 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking Morocco’s total number of cases to 8,455. 

Erdogan Eases More Restrictions  

Turkey, meanwhile, has seemingly entered the final stages of COVID-19 control measures. On Tuesday night, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lifted the stay-at-home order on people over 65 and children under 18 years, one of the few remaining virus curbs in place. After a large initial outbreak, case numbers have slowed and Turkey lifted most coronavirus controls, such as those on intercity travel, dining-in at restaurants, and accessing public places, on June 1. 

Erdogan backed up the latest easing of restrictions with promises to kick-start the economy, and particularly get young Turks back to work by providing “normalisation support” for employers. 

“We will support employment for young people under 25 and enable them to get (work) experience,” the strong-man president told national television.  

On June 9, Turkey added 993 COVID-19 cases to its tally of 172,000, which includes 4,700 fatalities from the disease.

Read also: Turkey Issues Gulen-Linked Arrest Warrants for Military, Police Officers

Men’s Shorts Become Target for Islamist Policing Attempts

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A social media campaign to stop men from wearing short shorts has emerged in Morocco. Supporters of the campaign are calling for men to “protect their entourage and the muslim community” by refusing to wear above-the-knee shorts in public. 

Targeting a style of shorts particularly popular with young men, the campaign claims they are “not acceptable from the point of view of the Sharia, customs and law.” Drawing on well known Islamist tropes, the posts ask men how they would feel wearing the shorts in front of their “sister, daughter or wife.”

Anticipating criticisms, the campaign finishes by addressing individual liberty and freedoms, suggesting that “liberty has its limits” and claiming that freedom is the “accomplishment of divine orders” and “respect for legal orders.”  

The Alternative Movement for Individual Rights (M.A.L.I) denounced the movement and the campaign met heavy criticism from users on social media who denounced it as “patriarco-religious.”

An emerging trend? 

The campaign follows controversy on social media last year over the length of shorts being worn by female Belgian volunteers assisting with a road building project in the south of Morocco near Agadir. 

Following media coverage of the girls’ work, some commentators on social media condemned their choice of attire. One man went as far as to suggest that “Their heads should be cut off so that no one else dares to challenge the teachings of our religion.” Morocco’s security forces later arrested the man and charged him with inciting terrorism. 

Ali El Asri, member of the conservative Justice and Development party questioned the girls’ motives. In a comment on Facebook, he suggested that their true intentions were to subvert Moroccan culture. 

Despite strong support from other commentators and their local partner organization, the trip’s Belgian organizer cancelled future projects in Morocco. 

Continuing the assault on individual freedoms

Morocco is known for its tolerance and moderate style of Islam, however growing external influences, particularly strict Wahabist teachings, are changing how some in Morocco practice their religion. 

Emboldened by this trend, Islamists are increasingly vocal in their attempts to limit individual liberties. Coupled with deeply entrenched gender inequality, women are often the first to be targeted, having their bodies and choices criticized and policed with worrying consequences. 

A 2017 study by UN Women found that over 70% of Moroccans agreed with the statement “a woman dressed provocatively deserves to be harassed.” In summer 2019, a number of articles in the Moroccan press detailed the harassment women face when wearing bikinis on public beaches. 

One young woman detailed how the harassment has become so bad that she no longer visits the beach during the height of summer. This is, for her, a more tolerable option than to “submit to the new rules established by perverse men and female slaves with a patriarchal ideology.”

As the campaign against short shorts highlights men and their freedom too can be the subject of Islamist ire. 

What is the Moorish Science Temple of America?

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Last week, members of the Moorish Science Temple of America were once again in the news as they joined protests in the United States, marching against systemic racism and the murder of George Floyd. 

The group, identifiable by their bright Tarboosh (fez hats) and the large Moroccan flags they carry, has a complex history.  

Founded by a “prophet”

Formed in 1913, followers of the Moorish Science Temple of America claim to be followers of Islam and pledge allegiance to Morocco and the Moroccan King based on a supposed Moorish heritage. 

Referred to by members of the temple as a prophet, the founder, Noble Drew Ali, was a well known and influential figure in Chicago society in the 1920s. In line with Temple’s teachings, which continue to allow polygamy, he had multiple wives. 

Despite his popularity at the time, rumors persist that he was murdered by the police. 

The Moorish Science Temple of America in 2020 

Today, there are approximately 60,000 members of the sect which counts a reported 90 temples across 15 states in the US.

Followers use a version of the Quran that includes Bible verses and additional sections written by Noble Drew Ali. Drew Ali claimed to receive “divine revelations” following a visit with a priest in Egypt. These revelations form part of the manuscript used for worship and religious ceremonies. 

Followers of the sect embrace their “Moorish identity” through the addition of “El” or “Bey” to their surname. Male members wear the bright red hats, known as a Tarboosh or Fez, and women wear a turban-style head covering. The group’s temples are structurally similar to Moroccan mosques. 

A Moorish heritage?

Central to claims of a Moorish heritage by members of the temple is the belief that African-Americans are denied access to their true heritage and are all descended from Moors. 

The term Moor is traditionally used to describe the Muslim inhabitants of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Malta and Sicily, during the Middle Ages. 

The origins of claims to a Moorish history are difficult to trace. One theory is that they take inspiration from an episode in 1790 when eight slaves taken from Morocco presented a petition demanding their liberty to the Chamber of Representatives in South Carolina. 

The petition for freedom was based on a treaty signed by Moroccan Sultan Mohammed III in 1777 with the United States. The treaty guaranteed Moroccans citizens in America their liberty. Following the presentation of the petition by the slaves, who claimed to have been kidnapped by the Portuguese and transported to America illegally, South Carolina passed the Moors Sundry Act of 1790. This act enshrined in law the right of Moroccans to live as “free men.” 

Some have also suggested that in addition to the episode in 1790, the belief in a Moorish heritage grew from the desire of members to disassociate themselves with the label “black” in the segregationist US of the 1920s. 

To this day, the vast majority of the sect’s members are not Moroccan citizens, although some regularly travel to Morocco to connect with their “ancestral homeland.”

MENA Tourism After Coronavirus

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The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a crisis in the global tourism industry with border closures and lockdowns resulting in global air traffic falling 60.8% in April year-on-year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is suggesting the pandemic could cost the airline industry $314 billion. 

In 2018, international arrivals to MENA destinations grew by 10% and for a number of countries, tourism is an increasingly important source of employment. In oil-based economies, such as Saudi Arabia, tourism is a key component of plans to diversify revenue streams. 2019 was an excellent year for tourism, with the region outpacing the global average in competitive growth. 

Within the MENA, countries in North Africa, most notably Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, stand out for their high tourist numbers. In 2019, a record 13 million tourists visited Morocco, an increase of 5.2.% compared to the year before while Egypt saw an increase of 21%, welcoming just under 14 million tourists. 

The impact of coronavirus in the MENA region

Tourism represents a greater share of regional GDP than in the world’s other four travel regions (Europe and Eurasia, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa), highlighting the threat that shutting down travel represents to regional prosperity in the MENA. 

In the first quarter of 2020, Tunisia recorded a 27% decrease in tourism revenues. Tourism represents the second biggest contributor to the country’s GDP. When the pandemic hit, the sector was already in recovery following sustained damage in the aftermath of the 2015 terrorist attacks that targeted Sousse, a popular tourist destination. 

What will tourism look like after coronavirus? 

With summer approaching and the reopening of international borders across Europe, many are beginning to look ahead to where their next trip may take them. The novel coronavirus remains highly contagious, as new outbreaks in factories and following large gatherings continue to demonstrate, and will undoubtedly have implications on tourism for some time to come.

In May, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) issued a set of guidelines to assist the tourism sector as it emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. Central to the guidelines is the development of safety protocols. Suggestions for ensuring traveller safety include immunization certificates, mandatory testing at airports, increased frequency of cleaning, and measures to implement social distancing at airports and on planes. 

Despite the disruption of the past few months and the challenges ahead, officials in Dubai remain confident that the Emirati state will be able to attract large numbers of tourists in the near future. Citing high numbers of online activity and enquiries, officials claimed Dubai could become a “top five” tourist destination. Last month Dubai began to slowly reopen hotels and beaches while spas, pools, and children’s play areas remain closed.  

In Tunisia, industry leaders are urging officials to consider diversifying the country’s tourism offerings. The large, resort-based, all-inclusive offerings that are popular in Tunisia will be difficult to modify to COVID-19 requirements. Suggested alternatives include developing tourism for more upscale clientele with a focus on boutique hotels and personalized services. 

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