The tourism sector in Agadir ends the year on a positive note, reinforced by the results recorded during the past month. Indeed, and despite the strong turbulence experienced by the tourism industry at the international level, the last month of 2016 ended with a notable increase of +23% in terms of arrivals, and +25% in terms of overnight stays. In detail, the number of tourists increased from 56,888 arrivals in December 2015 to 69,943 during the same period of 2016, which represents 13,055 additional arrivals.
In correlation, overnight stays increased from 242,273 in 2015 to 302,940 in 2016, a gain of 60,667 overnight stays according to statistical data provided by the Regional Tourism Center (CRT) of Agadir Souss Massa. This increase is explained by the increase in the main issuing markets. Led by the German market which confirms its recovery with an increase of around 105% with 5,517 additional visitors. The increase is also recorded at the level of the French market with 35%, and the national market with 10.31%. And the Russian market with an exceptional growth rate of 823%. In fact, 1,126 Russian tourists came on vacation to the capital of Souss last December, compared to only 122 during the same period in 2015.
As for the English (6,879 tourists received) and Polish (1,791 tourists received) markets, they recorded an increase of 10% and 13% respectively. However, it should be noted that for its part, the Belgian market recorded a decline of -16.19%. Portugal, Austria, Italy, Saudi Arabia are following the same trend in the red. As for the average length of stay (DMS) during the same month of December, it also recorded an increase as it went from 4.26 in 2015 compared to 4.33 days in 2016. “In accordance with our forecasts, the year 2016 ends with an increase rate of +3.17% in arrivals and +1.51% in overnight stays compared to 2015,” explains Fouad Hajoui, director of CRT Agadir Souss Massa.
Analysis of the cumulative arrivals and overnight stays over the last two years shows that the number of visitors increased from 884,848 in 2015 to 912,862 in 2016. And overnight stays increased from 4,160,386 in 2015 to 4,223,207 in 2016. Thus, it emerges from this analysis of the annual evolution that the national market still maintains its position as the main tourist demand for the Agadir destination with 349,862 visitors and an increase rate of 9.24%. Despite its decline, the French market, with -13%, maintains its second position with 126,819 arrivals; the German market is in third position with 85,829 arrivals and an increase rate of 5.3%. Finally, the English market ranks 4th with 75,760 arrivals despite a decline of -4.35% recorded during 2016.
Source: leconomiste
