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Original poster

Morrocco

35 replies

Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 09/09/2023 08:38

We’ve woken up to the sad news of the earth quake in Morrocco. I can see there is a significant loss of life and damage to the buildings.

We are due to travel to Marrakesh in 6 weeks. I’ve said to my husband I think we should cancel…as I thought the best thing to do for place when there is disaster is to stay away. My husband thinks we should still go if Possible and says they need tourism for the income.

What is the ethical thing to do in this situation? I recall people on the Greek islands with bad wild fires saying they wanted tourist to stay away.

OP posts:
PinkPondQueen · 09/09/2023 09:16

It is absolutely horrific, those poor people. Yes they could use the income from tourism but personally I would cancel - it's going to take a long time to clear the damage in Marrakech, you'll be walking into complete devastation.

Finallybreathe · 09/09/2023 09:20

I am horrified to hear this news. Those poor families and victims. I’m going to Marrakech also in December but will monitor the situation. I would watch it for a few weeks in terms of clearing the wreckage before making an opinion.

PickledPurplePickle · 09/09/2023 09:21

I would wait a couple of weeks and see what happens - you still have 6 weeks, so plenty of time to decide

Frodedendron · 09/09/2023 09:24

Six weeks is quite a long time in disaster recovery terms, I wouldn't cancel right away. Things could be operating reasonably normally by then. Review in a couple of weeks, see what travel agents are saying at that point (even if you haven't booked with one, it can be a good guide), what the UK government is saying, and so on.

AlbaAurora · 09/09/2023 09:33

It's just awful. We are supposed to be going next week which just doesn't feel like it would be wise at all! Planning to contact insurance today and see where we stand. Devastated for the Moroccans and also completely gutted as have been looking forward to it for so long.

JulesGeebee · 09/09/2023 09:35

@Embarrassednamechangeadoddle it’s dreadful and we are due to go in 4 weeks booked at a hotel by the Medina thus facing the same dilemma as you. I am thinking how can we possibly be all ‘hey look at us enjoying our holiday’ knowing what those poor, poor people are going through having lost so many loved ones and their homes? I wonder if tour operators contact their customers in such a situation.

Original poster
Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 09/09/2023 10:25

@AlbaAurora wow next week? I hope you can get something sorted and rearrange or cancel and go elsewhere. Like you say I can’t imagine being there without being in someway helpful to the distant (which I would be because I have no relevant skills). I hope holiday companies are helpful and prioritise what is right for the region….

@JulesGeebee I suspect for now all the operators will be sorting their staff and tourist there at the moment. I just want to cancel to be honest.

thanks for the replies. I suppose 6 weeks is a long time. Other issue is our kids are coming with us. So I’d need to think about them worrying about it etc.

puts things in perspective though hey. Lucky to not have disasters like those here and to have a home and safe family! I wish in situations like this you could cancel and donate the money to the recovery effort.

OP posts:
TaigaSno · 09/09/2023 10:32

They will need and want your tourism, but later on. Only 6 weeks after a major disaster is too soon - best to keep well out of the way and let them focus on body recovery, making buildings safe, and so on.

TheUsualChaos · 09/09/2023 10:39

Depends how close to disaster area you are staying but I don't think I'd want to go. It's not just things like will the airports, hotels be running as normal by then. It's that the emergency services, hospitals, medical supplies, transport systems will be extremely stretched. What if one of you fell ill or had an accident and needed help. Also, the risk of aftershocks would worry me too much.

Original poster
Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 09/09/2023 10:43

@TaigaSno yea that is my feeling. I will be trying to cancel. And possibly not going even if we can’t.

Not been abroad in years. Got passports etc for this holiday. Must be a sign!!

@TheUsualChaos were to the south or Marrakesh so pretty close and the excursions I wanted were to the atlas maintains so it’s all the region we are visiting: good point abojt hospitals etc.

we only bought insurance at 11 pm last night. Must have been after the quake but before news was out about it!!

OP posts:
AlbaAurora · 09/09/2023 10:44

Wow.

So already insurance are being sketchy saying it has to happen 7 days before (it's 8!!) And apparently it depends on lots of factors and they can't promise it's covered if flights are on etc even if it says natural disasters are covered!

And our Riad has already emailed unprompted to say they are still open and everything is fine in Marrakech itself and there's lots of guests enjoying their breakfast on the terrace this morning!! So basically pressuring to just come.

What a nightmare, no idea what will happen 😢

Skyvemind · 09/09/2023 10:46

This is so sad. I have a soft spot for Morocco and the warm and generous people I met there who are very proud of their beautiful country. I was hoping to go in January but hadn’t booked anything. I hope the rescue operation is successful. Off to see if MSF have a donation line set up.
As others have said, 6 weeks is a long time, you might find the area needs the tourism by then.

givemeasunnyday · 09/09/2023 21:04

TaigaSno · 09/09/2023 10:32

They will need and want your tourism, but later on. Only 6 weeks after a major disaster is too soon - best to keep well out of the way and let them focus on body recovery, making buildings safe, and so on.

Well said. Some of the posters on this thread obviously have no idea just what a disaster of this scale involves.

MissAmbrosia · 09/09/2023 21:19

Most of the real damage was inland in rural areas. It's probably a bit soon to say whether the tourist areas are possible to visit yet. If travelling tomorrow I would expect holiday company to cancel. If in 6 weeks I would hang on til at least next week til panicking.

MissAmbrosia · 09/09/2023 21:42

I manage a big contract with people working there - all present and well thankfully. Lots of investigations ongoing with regards to wider family and what assistance is needed.

MrReflection · 09/09/2023 21:42

givemeasunnyday · 09/09/2023 21:04

Well said. Some of the posters on this thread obviously have no idea just what a disaster of this scale involves.

Show quote history

I agree - they need time to rebuild their own lives. 6 weeks is nothing. Perhaps plan it for next year when they will definitely need the tourism.

Original poster
Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 10/09/2023 09:48

Thank you for your opinions. I think we cancel but will loose £600. I’m minded to just do that. Maybe I can get a cheaper last minute elsewhere anyway. Then If I get. A decent deal and save some money I can donate something to the relief effort.

OP posts:
MrReflection · 10/09/2023 10:24

Can you reschedule your trip to next year due to what's going on? A lot of tour operators can be sympathetic to this. I genuinely feel the area will still be in so much dissaray for many months to come.

Original poster
Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 10/09/2023 10:39

I have 2 weeks book off work so will rearrange to go somewhere else this year. Looks like we can cancel/move to an alternative holiday with the same company but will loose £600-£1000 ish. I think that’s probably worth it and will be offset by the fact we’ll move to a last minute deal.

I will for sure look at going to morrocco maybe next year and rebooking when I know things are settled. We are travelling with our children which makes it more complicated as I’m obviously more averse to risk knowing they’ll be with us.

OP posts:
AlbaAurora · 11/09/2023 11:55

Just to update insurance won't cover as UK government haven't issued advice not to travel.

So we have a very difficult decision to make as we go this weekend.

AlbaAurora · 11/09/2023 11:57

AlbaAurora · 11/09/2023 11:55

Just to update insurance won't cover as UK government haven't issued advice not to travel.

So we have a very difficult decision to make as we go this weekend.

We booked accommodation and flights separately. Ryanair don't care (obviously) and the accommodation is hell bent on making us come and shouting loudly about everything being fine which is just ridiculous.

Original poster
Embarrassednamechangeadoddle · 11/09/2023 15:41

@AlbaAurora what a pain for you. Being so soon after you absolutely should be able to rearrange, but insurance are always like this aren’t they.

We won’t be able to claim I don’t think, but are able to cancel but will loose about 400-600 pound. Looks like this can be offset by getting a last minute deal elsewhere though.

OP posts:
AlbaAurora · 12/09/2023 16:43

Just to update you that after a huge amount of agonising we have decided to go. Everything we have booked is saying that tourism is a way of showing support right now and that the city itself is fine. It's far from ideal but weighing things up we won't get the time off again and losing 1k is just too much to bear. (We are not wealthy)

I can let you know how it goes if you are interested.

Pepermintea · 12/09/2023 18:08

We are also booked to go to Marrakech in about a month's time and I feel very torn about it, as well as guilty about worrying about a holiday when people have faced so much devastation. Like @AlbaAurora we have booked our lights and hotel separately, and insurance won't pay anything. Please do let us know what it's like @AlbaAurora .

FlamingoFlamboyance · 12/09/2023 18:10

I'm sorry but I disagree; we have arrived today and driving from the airport to our hotel you wouldn't know there had been a quake, but from what's being reported in the media you'd think the city of Marrakesh had been flattened.

The people of Morocco that rely on tourism will appreciate you still coming and supporting their country with your tourist income.

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