Morocco Tourism Booms: Record Summer Season Signals Bright Future for Travel Industry

"Although we are still in the process of consolidating all the indicators, the preliminary data for the summer season of 2024 show a positive balance," assured Fatim-Zahra Ammor in a statement to MAP, announcing "promising" prospects for Moroccan tourism in view of the national strategy and the significant investments planned for the sector in the 2025 Finance Bill, not to mention global sporting events such as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, which will attract many visitors to the kingdom.

Arrivals reached a record 2.6 million in July, up 20%, or 424,000 more tourists compared to the same period in 2023, notes Fatim-Zahra Ammor, stressing that this increase concerns both Moroccans living abroad (+23%) and foreigners (+14%). In detail, there is an 8% increase in overnight stays and 4% in arrivals in classified tourist accommodation establishments (EHTC) in the Souss-Massa region. In the Northern region (Tangier, Assilah and Mdiq-Fnideq), a 12% increase in overnight stays and 11% in arrivals was recorded. In Marrakech, overnight stays and arrivals increased by 6% and 8% respectively.

As an emerging destination for beach tourism and water sports, the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region recorded a notable increase of 32% in arrivals and 5% in overnight stays during the summer season of 2024, said the official, noting rather poor figures in the Oriental region in July 2024 and a rebound in August, with a 5% increase in overnight stays and 3% in arrivals compared to the same period in 2023.