The Moroccan government predicts tourism revenues to reach two billion dollars over the course of 2002 compared with $2.7 billion in 2001, a $700 million drop, reported Al-Hayat. Morocco’s tourism sector will no longer be the top foreign currency revenue generator in the country.
Operating hotels in Marrakech reported that tourists spent 285,000 nights last March in the city compared with 340,000 nights in March 2001, a 15 percent withdrawal.
Morocco's tourism industry recorded a 43 percent revenue drop in January 2002. Receipts for the month totaled 1.19 billion Moroccan dirhams ($102 million), down from Dh2.1 billion in the corresponding period the previous year, the government’s Office des Changes disclosed.
The Moroccan tourism industry currently employs over half a million people, serving some 2.4 million tourists arriving in the country annually. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
