Tourist arrivals in Morocco’s southern provinces have surged by more than 50% between 2019 and 2025, underscoring the rapid emergence of Dakhla as a leading international destination on the Atlantic coast.
According to figures from Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism, the number of visitors rose from 490,297 in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025, driven by the expansion of European air routes and a wave of investment in high-end hospitality infrastructure.
The sustained growth reflects a broader strategy to position Dakhla as a global tourism hub, increasingly marketed in international campaigns as a “hidden gem” of Morocco.
At the heart of this transformation is a sharp increase in direct air links connecting Dakhla to major European cities. Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has played a prominent role, launching routes in January 2025 linking Dakhla with Madrid and Lanzarote.
The airline has also identified the city as a key node in its Moroccan network, describing it as its “thirteenth airport” in the country while actively promoting the destination in its marketing campaigns.
Transavia France has also strengthened its presence, expanding connections from French cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lille. National carriers Royal Air Maroc and Air Arabia continue to support the network with regular domestic and international routes.
This expansion has significantly boosted the airport’s capacity. Tourism Minister Fatim Zahra Ammor noted that new connections have nearly doubled Dakhla’s international capacity, with close to 47,000 seats available in 2024 alone.
The rise in air connectivity has been accompanied by rapid growth in tourism infrastructure. New high-end resorts, eco-tourism lodges and residential projects aimed at foreign buyers have reshaped the city’s coastline, attracting visitors drawn by water sports, desert landscapes and the region’s Atlantic beaches.
Tourism operators are increasingly spotlighting Dakhla’s favorable climate, world-class kitesurfing conditions and unique natural environment. These factors have helped position the destination competitively within Morocco’s broader tourism offering.
