Algerian Tourists Flock to Morocco Despite Political Tensions

Moroccan cities remain the preferred destinations of Algerian tourists, despite the hostile rhetoric of the Algerian military regime towards the kingdom. According to the updated data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 300,000 Algerians visited Morocco between 2018 and 2022, compared to 175,000 Tunisians and 172,000 Mauritanians.

These figures show the failure of the Algerian authorities’ attempts to pit the Moroccan and Algerian peoples against each other, relays Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. Algerian tourists, as well as stars such as singer Cheb Khaled, footballers Mahrez and Slimani, or legend Zinedine Zidane, continue to prefer the Moroccan destination. Other celebrities like Faudel and Reda Taliani have even chosen the kingdom as their country of residence.

Casablanca is the preferred destination of Algerians, according to Algerian media. It is followed by Marrakech, Agadir and Oujda. Hotel bookings in these cities have recorded a strong increase compared to other tourist cities in the kingdom. Other media sources note a continuous increase in the arrival of Algerian tourists in Morocco, estimating that their number would be more considerable if the borders between the two countries were not closed.