TOURISM – 8.1 million tourists visited Morocco during the first nine months of 2016, up slightly by 0.3% compared to the same period in 2015, according to a press release from the Tourism Observatory, relayed by the official MAP agency.
In detail, the number of foreign tourists decreased by 3.6%, while the arrivals of Moroccans living abroad (MRE) recorded an increase of 3.8%, according to the same source.
Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom, Germany and France fell by 7%, 3% and 2% respectively, while the number of tourists from Holland, Belgium and Spain increased by 2%, 1% and 1% respectively.
The Russian and Chinese markets posted 3-digit increases (+102% for Russia and +184% for China), indicates the Tourism Observatory.
Regarding total nights spent in classified tourist accommodation establishments, they increased by 2% compared to the end of September 2015 (-2% for non-resident tourists and +11% for residents).
The two main tourist centers, Marrakech and Agadir alone generated 60% of total overnight stays during the first nine months of 2016, recording increases of 2% and 3% respectively. Other destinations nevertheless showed mixed results.
If Fez recorded a decrease of 12%, followed by Rabat (-2%), Casablanca and Tangier experienced increases of +5% and +7% respectively.
The occupancy rate until the end of September 2016 stood at 40%, down one point compared to the same period in 2015.
During the first nine months of 2016, revenues generated by the tourist activity of non-residents in Morocco amounted to 50.77 billion dirhams compared to 47.85 billion dirhams in 2015, an increase of 6.1%.
Source: http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/12/01/tourisme-maroc_n_13347182.html
