Morocco Expects Tourism Boost from 2030 World Cup Co-Hosting Role

This week, FIFA revealed that the 2030 World Cup would take place in six countries (Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) and on three continents (Europe, Africa, South America). Morocco, Spain and Portugal, the host countries whose joint candidacy received the approval of the international body, will each host around thirty matches. "Given that each of the 30 matches will take place in stadiums that can accommodate 60,000 participants, of whom 50% are foreigners, Morocco will receive at least 900,000 foreign tourists," says a senior member of the National Confederation of Tourism involved in the preparation of the displacement of tens of thousands of Moroccan supporters during the previous World Cup in Qatar in an interview with Médias24. He estimates that one million visitors will travel depending on the qualifications of their favorite team for the World Cup.

The average length of stay for a supporter was 4 nights during the previous football World Cups. Deduction: the hotel industry should generate 4 million overnight stays, in addition to those of other foreign tourists, Moroccans living abroad and domestic visitors. If each overnight stay is billed at $1,000, the revenue can therefore reach around $4 billion for the 4 million overnight stays, to which a multiplier index of 2 corresponding to all ancillary expenses, particularly air travel, food, car rental... All calculations made, the 2030 World Cup should generate a total tourism turnover that could reach $8 billion.

The operator also advised Morocco not to follow in the footsteps of South Africa, which, by hosting the 2010 World Cup, had devoted heavy investment to the construction of many brand new stadiums that have never been amortized, and some of which are now deserted or even in ruins. He therefore calls on the Moroccan authorities to invest only in sports facilities that can be made profitable afterwards, by hosting major matches or international tournaments, which will allow the kingdom to benefit from a positive post-World Cup effect like Mexico and Spain. "If all the necessary infrastructures are completed, the figure of 16 million arrivals planned by the roadmap, well before the announcement of FIFA confirming the success of the tripartite Morocco-Spain-Portugal candidacy, will certainly be largely exceeded," he estimates.