Morocco to impose tourist tax
Morocco is planning to introduce a €9 departure tax from April 1 2014.
The country’s cash-strapped government wants to use the money raised, estimated to be around €90 million a year, to promote it as a tourist destination.
Tourism minister Lahcen Haddad said the proceeds would allow Morocco to raise awareness in emerging markets, such as Brazil, China, the Gulf, West Africa, and eastern Europe.
First class flights will be taxed 400 dirhams (€36) while a surcharge of 100 dirhams (€9) will be added to economy class tickets.
Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays, said although the tax wasn’t too unreasonable compared with other countries (£13 in the UK for example), it was a risky move long term.
"The Moroccons need to be careful about their long term strategy, which seems to be much more mass market focused. They support volume tour operator with funding at the expense of niche operators," he said.
"If the government objectives are for volume from new markets, they will attract a new group of customers who will make the destination less appealing to the core market who actually put more into the local economy when they get there. It needs to be done very carefully and cautiously."
He said Morocco also risks losing services from no-frills airlines.
"The no-frills airlines have a short term view and if this tax makes the route less viable, it’s of no consequence to them to switch their allegiance to another country that’s cheaper," he said.
A spokesman for Ryanair said: "We will discuss this matter with the Moroccan authorities in due course."
Max Lawrence, MD of specialist operator Lawrence of Morocco, said the money should be used wisely.
"The amount we’re talking – about £7 for most travellers – is very unlikely to put people off and, collectively, this small tax could do a great deal for Morocco if it’s used wisely. The Moroccan National Tourist Office will hopefully give great consideration to this."
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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