A total of more than 9.266 million tourists visited Morocco at the end of the first eight months of the year, an increase of 6.4% compared to the same period in 2018, with +8.7% for foreign tourists (TES) and +4% for Moroccans residing abroad (MRE), according to the Tourism Observatory.
All the main source markets posted increases during this period, notably Italy (+10%), the United Kingdom (+8%), France (+8%), Germany (+7%), Spain (+6%), Holland (+6%), and Belgium (+6%), specifies the Observatory in its latest note on tourism statistics in Morocco.
Total nights spent in classified tourist accommodation establishments recorded an increase of 5.3% compared to the same period of 2018 (+3.3% for non-resident tourists and +9.8% for residents), notes the same source, adding that the two tourist centers Marrakech and Agadir alone generated 57% of total nights at the end of August 2019.
These two destinations recorded positive results (+8% for Marrakech and +2% for Agadir), continues the observatory, noting that Tetouan, Tangier and Oujda also posted good performances (+28%, +10% and +11% respectively).
For the month of August 2019 alone, the number of tourist arrivals at border crossings during the month of August 2019 saw a decrease of 1% compared to that of 2018 (+11.3% for TES and -7.6% for MRE).
The main source markets recorded mixed results. Indeed, Belgium, Spain and Germany recorded declines of 5%, 4% and 3% respectively, while the other markets recorded increases, namely the United Kingdom (+8%) and the United States (+6%).
At the same time, the volume of nights in classified establishments increased by 4% in August 2019, compared to that of 2018 (-1% for non-resident tourists and +12% for residents).
At the geographical level, the destinations of Rabat, Tetouan and Casablanca recorded an increase in terms of overnight stays of 23%, 31% and +14% respectively, followed by Marrakech (+5%) and Tangier (+6%).
source: lesiteinfo.com
