“The efforts of the Tourist Office and Moroccan hotel and tour operator professionals deployed over the past two years on the German market are bearing fruit. The significant strengthening of air service capacity to Marrakech and Agadir next winter is likely to encourage the continuation of this policy of reconquest.” It is in these terms that Said Mouhid, president of the Tourism Observatory, comments on the constant evolution of the flow of German tourists to Morocco. Morocco’s main source market, Germany is strengthening its positioning in the national tourism sphere. In the first half of the year, this market consolidated its shares both in terms of arrivals and overnight stays. It achieved good performance in this sense, even surpassing that of the French market. Thus, there were 278,073 German tourists staying in Morocco at the end of June. A flow up 12% compared to the same period of the previous year and 44% compared to 2010.
While the French market showed differentiated developments. French arrivals improved by 5% compared to the first half of 2016. On the other hand, they fell by 4% over a period of 7 years (2010-2017). Performance also translates into overnight stays. German tourists had 853,984 overnight stays in Morocco at the end of June compared to 571,364 overnight stays a year earlier and 476,693 in June 2010. This is reflected by an increase of 49% compared to the first half of 2016 and 79% compared to the same period last year. Regarding the size of the German market, the leading source of tourism in Europe, Said Mouhid indicates that it remains strategic for Morocco. “Solid, structured and integrated, it represents significant potential in the Moroccan tourism approach to consolidation and development of mature markets. It is a very demanding market which requires quality services and offers,” explains the president of the Observatory. Taking into account the increases noted, Germany is in the top 3 emitting markets.
In terms of overnight stays, the German market is located just after the French and British market and is thus ahead of Spain, Belgium, the United States, Holland and Italy. Germany also ranks third in terms of arrivals, followed by France and Spain. German arrivals also precede those from the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Holland and the United States. This reinforced positioning is driven by the specificity of the Moroccan offer from Germany. “The offer has, in fact, diversified and enriched, in particular by cultural and heritage destinations which have complemented the traditional seaside segment,” concludes Mr. Mouhid. Internet, the first channel for booking The enthusiasm for Morocco shown more and more by German tourists is driven by promotional actions, particularly on the Web. Referring to a satisfaction survey carried out at the end of 2016 by the tourism observatory, more than half of the tourists who visited Morocco this year obtained their information on the Internet. 19% were inspired by television programs about Morocco while 17% of German visitors learned about Morocco through posters, press articles and radio.
The same proportion opted for offers from travel agencies and carriers while 24% of German tourists relied on recommendations from family and friends. Regarding the method of organizing trips, it turns out that 55% of German tourists organized their trip through a booking site while 42% contacted travel agencies and tour operators. In terms of motivation, German tourists cite climate and discovery first. These two factors were confirmed respectively by 61 and 47% of tourists. Another 14% were motivated by the cost of the trip and 11% by the sustainable aspect of national tourism. Agadir, Inzegane and Saidia… Three Moroccan cities attract more German tourists. Agadir undoubtedly remains the first choice for these tourists. This is reflected in the constant increase in the average length of stay (DMS), a key indicator for assessing tourists’ enthusiasm for Moroccan destinations. Major changes were made in this direction between 2015 and 2016. Thus, the DMS increased in Agadir from 7.4 to 7.6 days in one year at the end of 2016. Ait Melloul Inzegane follows the same trend, totaling an average duration of 7.4 days in 2016 compared to 6.5 days in 2015. German tourists also spend a lot of time in Khouribga. The DMS in this city increased from 4.5 to 6.6 days in 2016. Saidia has also become more popular with Germans who spent an average stay there of 6.4 days in 2016 compared to 3.3 days in 2015.
It must be said that German tourists like to discover the entire territory, notably Marrakech, Mogador, Mazagan, Berkane and Dakhla. On the other hand, they spend little time in Casablanca, Rabat, Tetouan and Tangier, with an average length of stay ranging from 1.6 to 2.4 days. Note that 71% of German tourists who responded to the Tourism Observatory’s satisfaction survey spent their stay in classified hotels. 11% rent or stay in riads while only 5% opt for campsites. 1.5 billion DH spent in 2016 Although many come to visit Morocco, German tourists spent less in 2016 compared to last year. Total spending by German tourists inside Morocco amounted to 1.5 billion dirhams compared to 1.9 billion dirhams in 2015. The drop recorded would be 21%.
Thus the average expenditure per person and per night spent fell from 818 dirhams to 701 dirhams in 2016. German tourists visit Morocco either as a couple (43%) or alone (36%). Few come as a family (8%) or in a group (3%). Once there, these tourists prefer to visit monuments and museums (51%) or choose healthcare and well-being services (26%). 18% of Germans who went to Morocco in 2016 were looking for rest and relaxation compared to 24% who were interested in walks (13%) and the beach (11%). Gastronomy only interested 9% of tourists. But overall, German tourists were satisfied with their stay. 85% feel safe. Likewise, 76% of them were satisfied with the diversity of offers, the welcome and the friendliness reserved for them.
source: today.ma
