Morocco: Tourism authority targets 11 million tourists for 2017

Moroccan tourism authority has announced its 2017 ambition as the industry authorities hope to increase arrivals from China and Italy and hit an 11 million-tourist target.
Figures of tourist arrivals for 2016 second semester have saved the session and hyped hope at ONMT.
Around 10.4 million tourists visited the kingdom in 2016.
To reach the 2017 target, the ONMT is looking to hike up the number of Chinese tourists to 100,000. Chinese tourists’ arrivals in 2016 soared by 22 per cent compared to previous years.
Reckoned as one of the global top markets, with purchasing power estimated at $1,400 per tourist, China has become a major targeted market for Moroccan authorities.
A number of strategies, including partnership with France’s Air France to connect the kingdom to France, have been developed. Paris remains the favorite destination of Chinese new rich people.
Establishment of new air traffic connection between Fez and Toulouse, Paris and Dakhla, Tangier and Frankfurt, Agadir and Munich are also in the pipeline.
If China stands out a major market to woo, the ONMT is also courting tourists from Italy, hoping to attract 425,000 Italians, which will represent 8 per cent rise in the number of Italian tourist arrivals.
Italy and Morocco enjoy good friendship and 94 weekly flights link the two countries. Marrakech and Casablanca engulf the largest arrivals of Italian tourists. Royal Air Maroc’s three weekly flights between Casablanca and Naples will enable the ONMT to win new market shares in the south of Italy.