At the end of September, nights spent by non-residents in classified accommodation establishments were up 10%. Significant benefits expected from international events scheduled for December in the two main destinations, Marrakech and Agadir.
With the recovery recorded since the start of the year, will Morocco succeed in passing the 10 million tourist mark in 2013, after more than three years of stagnation in arrivals? In view of the results recorded at the end of the third quarter, i.e. a volume of arrivals at the borders of 7.8 million with an increase of 7% compared to the same period of 2012, the bet is playable, knowing that 2012 had closed with 9.35 million arrivals. But most professionals remain skeptical on the issue, preferring once again to recall that everything depends on the promotion of air rotations which will be scheduled to Morocco by the end of the year. And also to emphasize that if arrivals and overnight stays increased during the first months of the year, it was at the cost of sacrifices in terms of prices, the consequences of which are visible on the evolution of tourist revenues during this period. Indeed, with an increase in overnight stays in accommodation establishments classified during the first 9 of the year of 9% compared to the previous year (10%) for non-resident tourists and an occupancy rate which increased by 3 points, standing at 44%, travel revenue reached 44.1 billion DH, or just 1.7% more.
Morocco attracts 17.9% of arrivals and 20% of receipts in Africa
However, there are signs that allow us to remain confident. First, the two main destinations of Agadir and Marrakech recorded increases in their arrivals, of 9% and 10% respectively during this period, generating 64% of additional overnight stays. It should also be noted that the southern capital, Agadir, which communicates its figures in advance, recorded an increase of 13% in its arrivals and 18% in its overnight stays in October compared to October 2012. The international events scheduled in the two cities in December, including the organization of the Football Club World Cup, and the end-of-year celebrations will have an impact on national tourism.
Then, the figures recently published by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) augur a very favorable situation for the sector, despite the fact that the global economy continues to slow down. Thus, the number of international tourists increased according to the UNWTO by 5% at the end of the 3rd quarter of this year, and the UNWTO announces optimistic prospects for this fourth quarter of 2013.
Morocco represents, according to the UNWTO, 17.9% of arrivals in Africa (excluding Egypt) in 2012 and 20% of receipts. This means that the potential is there, and we just need to work hard to exploit it.
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