World Tourism: Morocco, leading destination in Africa

Morocco emerged in 2019 as the leading African tourism destination for foreign holiday makers, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) whose provisional figures credit the kingdom with 13 million visitor and a gain estimated at $7.7 billion.

The North African country, according to the UNWTO data revealed earlier this month, beats respectively Egypt, Tunisia and South Africa which are reckoned with other best destinations on the continent.

The UNWTO figures suggest 5.2 per cent increase in the number of arrivals in the kingdom compared to figures of the same period last year.

The tourism market contributors for the Moroccan tourism industry, the UN agency notes, are foreigners and Moroccan nationals living abroad.

French citizens are by far leading foreign tourists, accounting for 2 million visitors (+6 per cent increase). They are followed by Spaniards whose number has increased by 6 per in 2019.

Other nationalities include Italians, English and Belgians who represent the largest contributor in terms of increase, according to 2018 and 2019 figures.

Marrakech and Agadir stand out as the top receivers of tourists in terms of hotel occupancy, both accumulating 57 per cent of a total of 25.2 million of hotel room bookings.

Though the kingdom is witnessing impressive and buzzing tourism industry marked by a 7.7 per cent increase revenues up from 2018 figures, the North African country, according to the UNWTO, must establish a strategic tourism roadmap that favors an inclusive development.

The UN agency also suggests that Morocco establishes connecting flights with various markets and invests more into the industry whose contribution to GDP is estimated at 7 per cent and generates around 750,000 jobs.