From Bab Boujloud to Talaâ Kbira and Talaâ Sghira, as well as Nejjarine Square and Bab Moulay Idriss, shopkeepers say sales have fallen to unusually low levels.
“This happens every summer and weakens artisans’ incomes. Business only really picks up again in autumn and spring, during the high tourist season,” said Hussein, who runs a shop on Talaâ Kbira.
Youssef, a carpet merchant, said foreign tourists, who make up the bulk of his customers, tend to favor cooler coastal destinations such as Tanger, in northern Morocco, and Asilah during the summer.
“The medina’s alleyways are virtually paralyzed by the heat, and many shops open late because there are so few customers,” said Mouhsine, another trader.
Omar, who sells caftans, described the situation as “an unprecedented slump” that is weighing heavily on merchants, who must continue paying rent, utility bills, and taxes despite sharply declining revenues.
Some traders believe the heatwave is not the only factor behind the downturn. Abbas, who sells incense near Bab Moulay Idriss, also blamed disorder in local markets, competition from handicraft products sold outside the medina’s walls, and the growing presence of unauthorized tour guides, which he said damages the image of the historic district.
For Abdelhaq Benjelloun, a merchant in Nejjarine, summer has become “one of the most difficult periods” for Fès, once known as “the city of rest.”
Like many local business owners, he is hoping for cooler temperatures and the return of tourists to breathe new life into the medina’s historic streets.
