Morocco Tourism Recovery Falls Short of Pre-Pandemic Levels Despite Revenue Gains

"At the end of August, the cumulative occupancy rate was barely 38% compared to 48% in 2019. We should therefore not reach the same performance as the pre-crisis year, because we have still not implemented the recommendations (strengthening air transport, promotion and investment)," explains a major professional in the receptive sector to Médias24, deploring the lack of structural decisions to boost the growth of the sector.

According to the professional, the growth rate is insufficient to reach the 13 million foreign arrivals (Moroccans living abroad and foreign tourists) recorded in 2019. "At this rate and contrary to what some are claiming, there is no chance of reaching this figure. If we reach the 10 million visitor mark, it will already be very good," specifies the operator who requested anonymity. This drop in the number of visitors this year is due to the late reopening of borders and the fear of travelers of being blocked in the kingdom, which has closed its airspace several times to limit the spread of Covid-19.

The professional also points out that "the good summer performance is to be credited to domestic tourism, which has resumed at 97% of its 2019 traffic" and remains optimistic about the expected revenues, which could reach 78 billion dirhams at the end of the year, the same level as in 2019. According to data from the Office des Changes, the level of revenues was 52.2 billion dirhams at the end of August, compared to 52.7 billion dirhams in the same period of 2019, confides another professional, adding that "the French source market has spent much more than in 2019".

To exceed the 2019 figures in 2023, the supervisory authorities must take the appropriate measures to multiply the air links, promote the electronic visa, increase the ONMT’s promotion budget and hotel investments in order to meet the expectations of visitors, he estimates. And to add: "Hoteliers have not yet seen a significant increase in the arrival of certain nationalities, such as the Indian source market, which is not used to coming to Morocco".