Morocco breaks pre-Covid tourism record with 14.5 million visitors

Morocco’s tourism has turned the Covid 19 page, breaking a new record with the arrival of 14.5 million tourists last year, up 34% from 2022.

The milestone shows a 12% increase compared to 2019 when Morocco attracted 13 million tourists, the ministry said in a statement.

The growth was triggered by Moroccans living abroad who accounted for 51% of all arrivals, up 27% compared to 2022, it said.

The number of foreign tourists grew 41% as Morocco seals more deals with airlines to bring in more visitors.

The figures are reflective of the competitiveness of Morocco destination, despite a context marked by a surge in geopolitical tensions.

More than 1.3 million tourists visited Morocco in December giving a boon to a sector that represents about 7% of GDP.

Morocco relies on increasing air routes between Moroccan cities and with European airports to attract more tourists.

In a recent deal, Ryanair said it will launch flights connecting 9 Moroccan cities in summer 2024. It also plans to add 24 new international destinations linking Morocco to key markets in Europe.