The global tourism sector is experiencing a notable recovery this year, marked by an increase in international arrivals and a significant contribution to global GDP. Morocco, also benefiting from this improvement, is however in 82nd place in the world ranking of the tourism sector, according to a study published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on May 21, 2024. With a score of 3.64, Morocco is ahead of Tunisia (83rd) and Algeria (98th). The Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), introduced in 2022 by the WEF, assesses the performance of 119 countries in sustainable and resilient development of the tourism sector. This index is based on five dimensions, divided into 17 subcategories and 102 indicators, which cover the country’s general environment, tourism policies, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, as well as environmental sustainability.
Despite its position in the ranking, Morocco displays positive dynamics with a significant increase in arrivals at border crossings, including Moroccans residing abroad (MRE). However, this progression contrasts with the performance of some neighboring countries and other developing economies.
Among the top 30 countries in the 2024 TTDI, 26 are high-income economies, mainly in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The United States, Spain, Japan, France and Australia dominate thanks to a favorable business environment, open travel policies and well-developed infrastructure. These countries accounted for more than 75% of the V&T sector’s GDP in 2022 and 70% of its growth between 2020 and 2022. In North Africa, Egypt ranks 61st, surpassing Morocco thanks to its attractive infrastructure and cultural resources. Algeria, although behind Morocco in the general ranking, is ahead of the latter in terms of infrastructure and tourist services with a score of 2.61 compared to 2.31 for Morocco. This raises questions, as these two countries are often considered incomparable when it comes to tourism infrastructure.
