Morocco’s Tourism Rebounds: 34% Rise in Visitors as International Travel Resumes

In its February 2022 economic note, the DEPF indicated that in the fourth quarter of 2021, the number of arrivals in Morocco increased by 209.3% year-on-year, after a 79.8% decline a year earlier, specifying that foreign tourists account for 47.5% of total arrivals compared to 25% in the fourth quarter of 2020 and 63% during the same period of 2019.

The number of arrivals of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) also increased by 12.4% compared to 59% a year earlier, the institution adds, noting that despite the suspension of flights to and from Morocco at the end of November, overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments increased by 51.1% in December and increased by 31.8% at the end of 2021, but remain down 63.6% compared to the end of 2019.

Tourism revenues, on the other hand, fell by 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, year-on-year, after recording an increase of 203.2% in the third quarter of 2021, despite the closure of Moroccan airspace at the end of November. At the end of 2021, these revenues reached nearly 34.3 billion dirhams (MMDH) compared to 44.5 MMDH a year earlier, a decrease of 6% and 56.5% compared to the end of 2019.

At the end of 2021, the tourism sector, severely affected by the health crisis and the closure of borders, maintained its recovery momentum started since the second quarter of 2021, but these results remain well below the pre-crisis level, concluded the DEPF.