"The earthquake killed people and destroyed villages on which our tourism activity depends," said Abderrahim Bouchbouk, owner of the nine-room guesthouse that was once run by his grandfather.
"That was a way for many local farmers to make additional revenue," said Bouchbouk, whose Kasbah La Dame guesthouse employs 14 people.
Ahmed Bassim, a tourist guide in the Ouirgane area who has been forced to live in a tent for shelter since the earthquake, said the region was in desperate need of reconstruction.
The region, one of Morocco's poorest, lies close to Marrakech, a popular tourist destination with luxurious hotels, fancy shopping centres and a historic souk.
Lahcen Zelmat, head of the Morocco's tourism industry federation, said the long-planned event "would be a chance for Morocco to promote Marrakech destination again after the earthquake."
Persons:
Abderrahim Bouchbouk, Mohamed Aznag, Tasa Ouirgane, Ahmed Bassim, Zelmat, Edmund Blair
Organizations:
Dame, REUTERS, Tourism, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Thomson
Locations:
VALLEY, Morocco, Tasa, Dar Izergane, Ouirgane, Marrakech, souk