CAN 2025: Rabat welcomed 150,000 visitors, including many Moroccans Residing Abroad

While the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) had anticipated a significant overall flow through its "Morocco, land of football" campaign, the reality on the ground confirms the attractiveness of the event. A representative of local hoteliers, quoted by Médias24, attributes these good figures, recorded since December 21, to the combination of two audiences: foreign delegations and fans, and the many MRE who came during this holiday period to support the Atlas Lions.

In December, the classified establishments in Rabat were fully booked, notably driven by bookings from CAF and official delegations. However, the economic impact has spread beyond the palaces.

The neighboring cities of Salé and Kénitra have largely benefited from the event. Some of the visitors, particularly supporters with more modest budgets or families, have turned to small hotels and Airbnb-type rentals in these peripheral areas. These cities have thus achieved unprecedented tourist revenue.

After the excitement of December, the president of the Regional Tourism Council (CRT), Mehdi Hameda Benchekroun, notes, however, a drop in hotel occupancy of about a third in early January. The occupancy rate stabilizes between 60 and 70%.

This decline is explained by the elimination of several teams drawing large communities (Tunisia, South Africa, Congo) and the departure of Algerian supporters (estimated at 3,000) to Marrakech for the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, the spin-offs for catering and transportation remain significant, positioning this CAN as a successful dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup.