Morocco will welcome 11 million tourists in 2017 compared to 10.3 in 2016. As the end-of-year holidays approach, operators in Marrakech and Tangier tell Médias24 that these cities will have an exceptional month of December and that the growth in arrivals will continue in 2018.
After several years of sluggishness linked to the global economy, the upward trend which characterized the first 3 quarters of 2017 will accelerate in December in all tourist areas of Morocco.
Whether it is Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca or Tangier, the level of reservations and projections of last-minute arrivals will experience growth which will allow the year to end on a high note.
Interviewed by Médias24, tourism professionals are unanimous in predicting continued improvement thanks to the increase in arrivals, air traffic and partnerships with foreign TOs.
According to a member of the CRT of Marrakech, requesting anonymity, this tourist powerhouse city of Morocco which recorded double-digit growth rates in arrivals and overnight stays (18%) during the first 9 months of 2017, will achieve a near-historic end to the year in terms of hotel occupancy.
« We will see more clearly from December 5 but already, the end of the year promises to be magnificent in terms of reservations. The possible arrival of the King from December 29 would be a boon for the city, because his international guests have already reserved hundreds of rooms in all the major hotels.
« There are always last minute bookings, but unlike in previous years, customers will have to pay more because from December 23, most 5-star hotels are already sold out.
« This trend, which will continue until January 7, bodes well for an exceptional end to the year, » says our source, who believes that this unprecedented attendance will continue in 2018.
Same story from the owner of the Saadi Palace who explains this rush by the stability of Morocco and by the school holiday calendar which will increase the number of arrivals and overnight stays.
« For this year, the calendar is very favorable for hotel establishments in Morocco. The 1st of the year which is a public holiday falls on a Monday which guarantees a long weekend for those who can only take 3 days off.
« In addition, as the French school holidays end on January 7, 2018, we find ourselves with people who come from Christmas until December 31 and those who arrive from the last day of the year to leave on January 6. It is therefore perfect timing for hoteliers », explains Jean Alexandre Bouhlal.
Our contact declares that his establishment is 75% booked from December 23 to 27 and that it is 100% full from December 27 to January 2. He continues that it is only from January 3 that this occupancy rate will begin to drop until the end of the holidays scheduled for Sunday, January 7.
« You can still book for the Christmas period but there is no point in asking us for rooms for the days before and after the New Year. In the past, there has always been a peak in attendance during the four days before the New Year but this year, the stars are perfectly aligned because surprisingly, people have booked their rooms very early.
« Those who usually called at the last minute were disappointed because our hotel is full but this is also the case at La Mamounia, The Four Seasons, The Sofitel and all the 5 stars in the city.
« After several difficult years, the current dynamic which started at the beginning of the year constitutes a real launching pad for 2018 », concludes the general director of the establishment.
Joined by Médias24, an authorized source from the ONMTadvances that this upward trend in attendance will also affect other tourist areas such as Agadir, Casablanca and Tangier.
According to Mustapha Boucetta who chairs the CRT of Tangier, the City of the Strait should also experience exceptional attendance for the end-of-year celebrations thanks to the arrivals of foreigners and nationals.
« Today, there are not many reservations but that is normal because we do not operate like Marrakech or Agadir, where a good number of tourists book several months in advance.
« Our visitors always do it at the last minute, but we are extremely optimistic because the city’s litter capacity and its attractiveness have literally exploded in recent years.
« Tangier will therefore record exceptional attendance and occupancy rates with a minimum double-digit growth rate », concludes the president of the regional tourism council.
If Morocco’s tourism activity has only taken off slightly since the launch of the 2020 plan due to a lack of real vision from the State, the current rebound recorded after years of sluggishness now seems to be lasting, but we will have to wait until 2018 to decide on the sustainability of this dynamic.
source: medias24
