Pandemic is emptying the blue-colored Moroccan tourist city

CHEFCHAOUEN, Morocco (AP) – When COVID-19 hit Morocco, the mountain town of Chefchaouen was one of the few that didn’t register any cases. The picturesque town, whose facades were painted in distinctive shades of blue, sealed off the world’s small population and kept the virus at bay for months.

Now, as the North African nation cautiously reopens and tries to revive its struggling economy, Chefchaouen stands subdued, abandoned by the tourists who have long been its lifeblood.

In the narrow streets, inactive youths light cannabis joints and chat, pausing to sell something to passers-by. Fishermen bring their catch of the day from nearby rivers, sell sardines on street corners, while cats linger, waiting for a reward with the leftovers. Children carry trays of their family’s pastries to sell.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, most of the visitors to the city were local tourists rather than the European and Chinese visitors who usually throng the narrow streets. Store owners, who typically sell rugs, wool coats, and souvenirs, struggled to find customers.

When a curfew went into effect nationwide to prevent large gatherings during the holidays, restaurants in the usually busy main square near the historic Kasbah had to turn down their customers to close early.

In the Middle Ages, the city was populated by Moriscos, or Moors, who were fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Today it is known as the “Blue Pearl of Morocco” and is one of the top destinations in the kingdom, often overcrowded, with hotels being fully booked.

The relaxed atmosphere, the dazzling blue alleys, the vast mountain scenery and the hiking trails have long attracted tourists, especially from Spain and China, whose citizens like to travel visa-free to Morocco.

Despite the specter of the pandemic, which killed more than 7,000 people in Morocco and depressed the economy, Chefchaouen’s closure has brought a bit of unexpected reprieve.

The absence of tourists posing for photos next to the iconic carved doors and characteristic staircases seemed to liberate one of the most photographed spots in Morocco, giving residents the chance to slow down and take in the quiet beauty of their own city .

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