In 2024, the national tourism sector shone with its dynamism, showing an 8% increase in overnight stays in classified establishments, according to the Tourism Observatory, to reach 1.7 million. Marrakech, Agadir and Casablanca, the jewels of the kingdom, captured 70% of these overnight stays, confirming their status as privileged destinations. The tourism sector is doing better and recovering from the impacts of Covid. Madame Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, praised the exceptional resilience of Morocco, which has stood out despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. With the ambition to welcome 17.5 million visitors by 2026, and an additional million in 2024, Morocco has already earned more than 105 billion dirhams in 2023, thanks to 14.5 million tourists. This remarkable performance propelled the country from 34th to 22nd place in the world tourism rankings between 2019 and 2022. In this dynamic, the government implemented a proactive strategy, investing more than 8 billion dirhams in two years to support and accelerate the transformation of the sector, in accordance with the 2023-2026 roadmap. The brilliant performance of the national team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 also helped to strengthen Morocco’s image on the international stage. Moroccans living abroad (MRE), who stay on average three weeks in the country, play a key role in the tourism economy, spending more than foreign visitors.
Despite international crises, Morocco maintains its competitiveness with an offer of quality tourist services at attractive prices. In 2024, the airline sector will experience significant expansion with the introduction of new routes by Ryanair and the continued development of the Royal Air Maroc fleet, targeting 200 aircraft by 2037. The year 2024 is also marked by the consolidation of traditional markets and the exploration of new opportunities in the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Asia. The launch of the electronic visa at the end of 2023 was a major turning point, with more than 209,000 visas issued, the vast majority for tourism. Alternative tourism has taken off with players like Airbnb. To adapt, the government accelerated the implementation of Law No. 80.14, introducing a new decree to regulate and integrate these new forms of accommodation, while ensuring optimal quality/price ratio. Morocco’s tourism strategy, structured around the triptych « resist, revive, reinvent », allowed the country to overcome two difficult years and position itself as a destination of choice for travelers from around the world.
