Morocco Sees Record 17% Surge in Tourist Arrivals, Welcoming 4.6 Million Visitors in Early 2024

Between January 1 and April 30, 2024, the number of arrivals reached 4.6 million, an increase of 567,000 arrivals compared to a year earlier, according to the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) in its recent economic note. In the first quarter of the year, Morocco recorded the arrival of 3.3 million tourists, an increase of 12.8% compared to 2023.

This record is justified on the one hand by the 15.4% increase in arrivals of foreign tourists and 9.8% of MREs, and on the other hand by the 2.9% increase in overnight stays (+9% for non-residents and -12% for residents), reaching more than 5.5 million at the end of March.

As for tourism revenues, they recorded a 5.1% decrease in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, standing at 23.7 billion dirhams (MMDH). However, these revenues exceed by 44% those recorded in the first quarter of 2019, the reference year.

The tourism sector has gradually regained its pre-Covid-19 level, with an average recovery rate of its value added of 98.3% in 2023, compared to 80.5% in 2022. From 25.8% at the end of 2022, the sector’s value added improved in 2023 after performances of 53.9% in the first quarter, 31.2% in the second quarter, 11.2% in the third quarter and 6.9% in the fourth quarter.