Should I travel to Morocco at this time?

Experts say it is still possible to travel to Morocco after the historic earthquake, but only visit the northern regions.

Morocco's "worst earthquake in more than 60 years" has had a major impact on tourism in the North African country. CNN has updated information for travelers planning to visit Morocco.

The epicenter of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck last Friday night was the High Atlas Mountains, about 166 km southwest of the heritage city of Marrakech, central Morocco, in Al Haouz province. This is also where the highest number of casualties occurred.

Marrakech was severely affected by the earthquake, with many historical buildings severely damaged. Since September 11, all historical sites in Marrakech, including the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the El Badi Palace, have been closed.

Ancient buildings in Marrakesh destroyed by an earthquake, photo taken on September 9. Photo: Reuters

The High Atlas Mountains have been hit hardest and travel experts are advising against visiting at this time. Many hotels have been badly damaged, with some forced to close. Bilal El Hammoumy, CEO of Inclusive Tours in Morocco, said a large number of tourists have been asking about the situation in the High Atlas. El Hammoumy’s company is advising visitors to Morocco in September to change their itinerary and visit destinations in the north of the country.

Regular pick-up locations

Abdelilah El Khadir, receptionist at the Tour Hassan Palace hotel in the northern capital Rabat, said the situation in most cities in Morocco was "still fine".

The coastal resort cities of Essaouira and Agadir also felt strong shaking, but no damage was reported. The cities of Casablanca and Fez, about 300 miles (482 kilometers) northeast of Marrakech, also felt the shaking but were not severely affected.

Zina Bencheikh, CEO of Morocco-based Intrepid Travel, said that with the exception of the High Atlas Mountains and the heart of Marrakech, most destinations have not been affected by tourism disruptions. Travelers can visit Casablanca, Fez and Chefchaouen in the north of Morocco, and Ait Benhaddou or the Dades Valley in the south.

Unaffected by the earthquake, tourism activities in the city of Fez continue. Photo: Zdenek Kazr

Taxis, buses, trains, planes and other transportation services remained operational after the earthquake. Airports were open and flights continued as scheduled, including to Marrakech.

Meryem Ameziane, a tour guide in the city of Fez, said tours were still going as planned. She has not had to cancel any tours since the earthquake.

"The northern region was not affected by the earthquake, traffic between cities is normal. This is the beginning of the peak tourist season in Fez," Ameziane said.

The female guide added that many famous Moroccan destinations such as Merzouga, Skoura and parts of the Sahara desert were "safe and sound".

The Middle Atlas Mountains to the north were unaffected by the earthquake, located about 400 miles from the epicenter. This location offers many of the same experiences as the High Atlas, giving visitors exposure to rural Moroccan life and Berber culture.

Despite the mourning that has engulfed the High Atlas and Marrakech, Meryem Ameziane said tourism operators in other regions should not “feel guilty or ashamed” about continuing to welcome visitors. Continuing tourism in other regions is also a way to support the victims of the historic earthquake.

Tour company adjusts schedule

Travelers planning to visit Morocco in September should check with their tour operators. Intrepid immediately canceled trips to Morocco this week after the earthquake and is monitoring the situation. The company has resumed departures starting September 14, but has adjusted itineraries, canceled activities in downtown Marrakech, and rerouted tours of the High Atlas Mountains. World Expeditions, a mountaineering tour company, has also canceled and rerouted its High Atlas trekking trips.

The US State Department does not currently recommend travel to Morocco. The UK Foreign Office has also not advised against travel to Morocco at this time. Travelers should closely monitor information from their tour companies. Travelers should also check with their airlines for any changes or cancellations.

Morocco's tourism industry looks forward to welcoming visitors

Vanessa Branson, owner of a hotel in Marrakech, said the halt in visitors to Morocco would have a huge impact on the livelihoods of people and businesses that depend on tourism. "Tourists bring hope for the country's tourism industry to recover after the pandemic," Branson said.

Bilal El Hammoumy said that "people who are suffering from the consequences of the earthquake rely on tourism for their income". Not only in the High Atlas and Marrakech, many other localities in Morocco rely on tourism. He is concerned that tourists are "staying away" from Morocco because of fears that the earthquake will cause further damage to the country's economy, "three times more devastating" than the period when tourism was suspended due to the pandemic.

"We encourage people from all over the world to visit this coming autumn so that tourism in Morocco can quickly return after the disaster," said the CEO of the Inclusive tour operator.

The earthquake struck during one of the busiest months for the tourism industry, and many tour operators are concerned that the disaster will deter visitors from visiting Morocco, said Bencheikh, CEO of Intrepid Travel. "The country needs tourism more than ever as it rebuilds," Bencheikh said.

Bich Phuong (According to CNN)

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