Morocco welcomed more than 7.7 million tourists in the first five months of 2026, marking a 7% increase compared with the same period last year, according to official data.
The tourism ministry said arrivals maintained strong momentum as the country approaches the peak summer season, with May alone recording about 1.7 million visitors, up 13% year-on-year.
The steady rise in visitor numbers underscores the continued recovery and expansion of Morocco’s tourism sector, one of the country’s key sources of foreign currency and employment.
The latest figures build on solid growth in the first quarter, when Morocco attracted more than 4.3 million tourists, a 7% increase from a year earlier, reflecting sustained demand from international markets.
Authorities have attributed the growth to efforts to boost air connectivity, expand tourism offerings and improve the overall visitor experience. The strategy targets both traditional European markets and new long-haul travelers, particularly from North America and emerging destinations.
Tourism has been a major driver of Morocco’s economic performance in recent years. The country welcomed a record 19.8 million visitors in 2025, up 14% from 2024, cementing its position as Africa’s top travel destinations.
Tourism receipts reached 44.39 billion dirhams ($4.83 billion) in the first four months of 2026, up more than 21% from a year earlier, according to official figures.
Morocco was targeting continued growth to 26 million tourists by 2030 when it will co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, but business daily Medias24 reported earlier this week that Morocco could reach its official tourism target of 26 million visitors by 2030 two years ahead of schedule, as stronger-than-expected growth renders current projections outdated.
The argument is based on a reassessment of the assumptions underpinning Morocco’s tourism roadmap, which analysts now say no longer reflect the sector’s performance.
Recent data show visitor arrivals and tourism revenues growing at a faster pace than originally forecast, with annual increases of around 22%, well above initial expectations, according to the report.
Preparatory work on a new roadmap for 2027–2030 includes a more ambitious scenario targeting 30 million visitors and nearly 200 billion dirhams ($20 billion) in revenues by the end of the decade.
