Interview: Morocco

OTDYKH Leisure team launches new interview series with heads of international tourism boards on their experience, forecasts, recent updates and tips during forced isolation.

Samir Sussi Riah has been a head of Moroccan National Tourism Office in Moscow for many years now. Over the course of his service, the Office along with the Russian travel industry weathered more than one crisis. As part of ‘OTDYKH_remote work’ blitz interview series, Sussi Riah has agreed to share with the OTDYKH Leisure team what is the situation and people’s thoughts like in Morocco and at the Embassy.

Question 1. How are you feeling today? In what format do you and your colleagues continue to work?

I feel optimistic despite this turmoil. It will be over one day, and we will get back to normal. In the meantime, my colleagues and I work remotely but we always in contact with one another and in search of new ways to promote Morocco as a tourist destination.

Question 2. It’s especially important now not to cut off communication with partners and clients. Could you share you experience with your Russian and international colleagues, how do you continue promoting your destination in a situation where borders are closed?

We continue working with our partners online and keep an eye on the situation in order to launch joint campaigns. We also remain in contact with tourism professionals in Morocco, so that we can together reconsider prices for accommodation, services and the like.

Question 3. Forecasts are now made very carefully, but still... According to your assessment at this time, when do you expect tourist flow recovery, including from Russia?

While we anticipate a certain number of tourists from Europe this fall, it’s not until the beginning of 2021 that we think there will be any tourists from Russia. Hopefully, Morocco will see a recovery of tourist flow by next summer.

Question 4. One last question. Let’s imagine we are on the verge of ending the pandemic. Where would you personally go immediately after all borders open and transport logistics are restored?

I will go to Morocco, of course, and then to other countries that I have been planning to visit.