A total of 9.5 million tourists visited Morocco during the first eleven months of 2016, up 0.8% compared to the same period in 2015, according to the Tourism Observatory.
The number of foreign tourists (TES) decreased by 2.2%, while arrivals of Moroccans living abroad (MRE) increased by 3.8%, show statistics published by the Observatory on Tourism in Morocco for the month of November 2016, citing data communicated by the General Directorate of National Security.
Arrivals of Spanish, Dutch and Belgian tourists recorded an increase of 2%, 2% and 1% respectively, specifies the Observatory, adding that those from the United Kingdom, Germany and France recorded drops of 7%, 3% and 2% respectively.
At the end of November 2016, the Chinese and Russian markets increased respectively by 25,240 and 22,000 additional arrivals compared to a year earlier, notes the Observatory.
Citing data communicated by tourist accommodation professionals, the Observatory notes that total nights spent in classified tourist accommodation establishments increased by 3.3% compared to the end of November 2015 (Stabilization for non-resident tourists and +10.4% for residents).
The two tourist centers, Marrakech and Agadir alone generated 60% of total overnight stays during the first eleven months of 2016, recording increases of 5% and 3% respectively, notes the Observatory, adding that the other destinations showed contrasting results.
Indeed, Fez recorded a decrease of 8%, while Casablanca and Tangier experienced increases of +6% and +7% respectively.
The occupancy rate, which stood at 40% until the end of November 2016, fell by one point compared to the same period in 2015, the statistics show.
During the first eleven months of 2016, revenues generated by the tourist activity of non-residents in Morocco amounted to 59.4 billion dirhams compared to 57.2 billion dirhams in 2015, an increase of +3.9%.
During the month of November 2016, the number of tourist arrivals at border crossings recorded an increase of 6.5% compared to that of 2015 (+11.4% for TES and -0.5% for MRE), according to the same source.
Source: Le Matin
