Moroccan Tourists Flock to Turkey and Spain as Domestic Travel Loses Appeal

Rates deemed high, the poverty of the national hotel offer, lack of individual freedoms and lack of entertainment... These are among the reasons that push many Moroccans to spend their holidays abroad. And Turkey has become one of their favorite destinations thanks to its interesting tourist offers: flight+transfer+hotel (4 stars)+excursion are offered from 9,000 dirhams per person and reach 25,000 dirhams for a luxury product despite the rise in air fares. This is evidenced by the record number of 7.3 million tourists welcomed in July 2024. In total, 28.9 million foreigners were welcomed in the first seven months of the year.

In Egypt, the tourist offers are just as attractive. In Cairo, it is possible to find a good 4-star hotel for 60 euros per double room. In Hurghada, the hotels of the major brands offer the double room at 1,000 dirhams. In Europe, southern Spain is the preferred destination for Moroccan tourists, especially those from the old continent. The latter rush to Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Estepona, Puerto Banús because of their proximity, the entertainment and the prices charged both for residential rentals and in catering or hotels. In the first seven months of 2024, the Iberian peninsula welcomed 53.37 million, up 12% from the same period in 2023, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). An improvement confirmed in July with the welcome of 11 million tourists, up 7.3% compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the explanations of Salouane Afandi Berrada, specialist in Outgoing tourism, Moroccan travel agencies benefit from preferential rates in the hotel industry in Turkey, Thailand and Egypt, which allow them to put together stays at what are described as reasonable prices, reports L’Économiste. Morocco, whose ambition is to welcome 17.5 million domestic and foreign tourists by 2026, must review its strategy. It should be remembered that domestic tourism had experienced an improvement during the Covid-19 pandemic - in 2021 and 2022 - marked by the closure of borders.