(Rabat) 2023 marked a new record year for tourism in Morocco with 14.5 million entries, the Ministry of Tourism and Crafts announced on Thursday.
Tourism has “reached a new historic milestone” with 14.5 million visitors, “or 34% more than in 2022”, indicated an official press release.
The Ministry of Tourism stressed that the sector recorded one million more visitors than the objective set by the government in its 2023-2026 roadmap which was 13.5 million visitors in 2023.
The previous record was recorded in 2019 with 13 million visitors before the sector plunged into an acute crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of foreign tourists increased by 41% year-on-year, and represented 49% of overall arrivals, up 3 points year-on-year.
Moroccans living abroad (MRE) made up the rest of the arrivals (51% of the total), a figure which saw a surge of 27% in a single year.
“Despite the complex global geopolitical context, December was marked by an unprecedented influx, with the arrival of nearly 1.3 million tourists distributed equally between MRE and foreign tourists,” according to the ministry.
For the authorities, “this dynamic confirms the attractiveness of Morocco as a tourist destination of choice, meeting the expectations of both the Moroccan diaspora and international travelers”.
Tourism is a key sector of the Moroccan economy, it represents 7% of GDP.