The destination totaled 13,600 visitors at the end of October 2017
The blue city continues to strengthen its position as a destination of choice for Asian tourists. At their head are the Chinese, constituting almost half of all international visitors going to Chefchaouen. According to statistical data issued by the provincial tourism delegation, the Chinese market contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals (34%) recorded by the city at the end of October 2017. Professionals attribute this situation to the abolition of visas for the benefit of nationals of the People’s Republic of China. The same official data shows that out of 28,619 international tourists who visited the blue city during the first ten months of 2017, the Chinese totaled 13,600, or more than 45% of all foreign visitors. Their enthusiasm for Chefchaouen can be explained by the architectural and historical beauty of the city as well as the tourist attractions that abound in its hinterland.
Based on the same source, Chinese tourists continue to take precedence over other strategic markets. At the end of October 2017, they were far ahead of their neighbors, namely the Japanese (4,218), the Spanish (2,237), the French (1,100), the Americans (676), the British (484), the Dutch (469), the Arabs (427) as well as the Italians (296).
Concerning nationals, these, whose average length of stay in Chefchaouen is one day, reached only the number of 12,001 at the end of October of the previous year. This resulted in a drop of 20% compared to the same period of 2016. It should be noted that in addition to the lack of entertainment, Chefchaouen needs a significant hotel and tourist infrastructure that matches its ambitions to be one of the busiest destinations all year round. The blue city currently has only 17 hotels, including a single four-star unit, but 41 guest houses as well as 8 lodges, located in neighboring rural communities. This allows them to provide their customers with a total capacity of some 1,559 beds. The various hotel and tourist accommodation establishments posted, at the end of October 2017, some 54,116 nights compared to 44,779 recorded during the same period a year previously, an increase of 21%. They also achieved, during this same period, an occupancy rate of 30% compared to 26%, year-on-year.
It should be noted that the peak of tourist arrivals was reached in August (5,748), October (4,979) and May (4,609) in Chefchaouen. These three months were able to achieve respective occupancy rates of 45, 35 and 33%.
