Climate change impacts on the blue economy in Morocco: Prospects for Jobs in Coastal Tourism

The government of Morocco is committed to unleashing the potential of its blue economy. The New Development Model underscores the importance of harnessing the potential of Morocco’s rich marine and coastal resources in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. An analysis was conducted to examine possible climate change impacts on coastal tourism jobs in in Morocco. This analysis aims to initiate a crucial discussion with the government to strengthen coastal tourism’s climate resilience under the ongoing Blue Economy Program for Results (PforR) framework, which supports the government in building the foundation of the government’s blue economy program.

The analysis revealed a concerning projection: tourists’ expenditures could decline by 8–18 percent by 2035. Coastal tourism could face a severe blow with a potential loss of up to around 32 percent of jobs. A paradigm shift is needed to move from traditional “sea, sun, and sand” tourism toward a more sustainable and resilient tourism model. Investing in climate change actions will lead to better development outcomes.