Tourism, long one of Morocco's economic pillars, is now proving its importance by contributing significantly to GDP growth and creating millions of jobs.
Morocco’s tourism industry is witnessing a remarkable growth. Accounting for 7% of the country’s gross domestic product, tourism is not only an important economic sector but also a driving force for the country’s development. The figure of 15.9 million visitors in the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 20% compared to the same period last year, is a clear testament to Morocco’s undeniable appeal.
An impressive year 2024 for the Moroccan tourism industry as the North African country recorded a record 15.9 million visitors in 11 months
According to the Bureau of Financial Studies and Forecasting, part of the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance, the figures show a new record for passenger numbers. The increase, the organization said, is due to investments in companies such as Royal Air Maroc, which has significantly increased the number of routes and routes. The report highlights the resilience of Moroccan airports in the face of reduced international air traffic. Globally, Morocco saw a 17.9% increase in international passengers and a 24.6% increase in domestic flights.
Data provided by the National Airports Office (ONDA) shows that the plan to develop and invest in infrastructure connecting airports to the country's main tourist centers has paid off. In terms of distribution, the majority of passengers chose Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.
Although other airports such as Marrakech-Menara Airport and Agadir-Al Massira Airport saw increases of 30.2% and 34.6% respectively, Casablanca Airport was the most popular airport for travelers in terms of total passenger traffic. Other major tourist destinations such as Rabat-Salé Airport (40.4%), Dakhla Airport (33.2%) and Tangier-Ibn Battuta International Airport, with increases of 20%, were part of the industry's growth.
This outstanding achievement not only marks spectacular growth but also affirms Morocco's increasingly solid position on the world tourism map.
“These remarkable figures demonstrate the effectiveness of our roadmap and represent a major step towards our goal of placing Morocco among the top 15 tourist destinations in the world,” said Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor. Morocco has opened new routes to key tourism markets and promoted new domestic destinations.
Official figures show that tourism revenues rose 9.3% from January to October this year to 97 billion dirhams ($9.72 billion). Morocco aims to welcome 17.5 million tourists by 2026 and 26 million by 2030 when it will co-host the soccer World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
