Morocco’s Tourism Sector Drives 7% of GDP, Minister Highlights Economic Impact

Nadia Fettah Alaoui hosted a conference-debate on the theme: "Tourism in Morocco: What progress report and what strategic vision for the relaunch of the sector?" Initiated by the British Chamber of Commerce in Morocco (BritCham), this conference aims to assess the contribution of tourism to the economic growth of the Kingdom. It also aims to highlight the sector’s performance.

According to the Minister of Tourism, over the period 2016-2018, the sector contributed 42% of service exports. She also stressed that the performance of tourism in the Kingdom has seen a clear evolution over the last decade (2010-2019). The average annual growth rate of tourist arrivals stands at 3.7%, while that of overnight stays in classified tourist accommodation establishments (EHTC) is 3.9%.

In 2019, according to Nadia Fettah Alaoui, tourist arrivals reached 12.93 million, with a total of 25.2 million overnight stays recorded in the EHTC. This increase is driven by the diverse assets of the different regions of the country. And to maintain the momentum, the minister believes it is necessary to focus on the "flagships" and to "launch projects on human capital and training, digitalization, animation, rural tourism, regulation and support for operators, as well as the enhancement of intangible heritage".

For his part, the CEO of the Association of British Travel Agents and Tour Operators "ABTA", Mark Tanzer, highlighted the promotion of bilateral tourism and business opportunities. He also welcomed the post-Brexit free trade agreement recently signed between Morocco and the United Kingdom.