The travel and tourism sector is booming in Morocco and Egypt, where new arrivals records were set in 2025, making them Africa’s most-visited nations. Connectivity improvements, event tourism, infrastructure development, and new cultural initiatives are behind the two countries’ success.
Morocco
Morocco welcomed 19.8 million tourists, a rise of 14% compared to 2024. New flight routes were a major part of the uptick, with Royal Air Maroc developing its European, US, and Chinese connections. Ryanair, too, has grown its low-cost offer. The surge looks set to continue with its fleet set to quadruple by 2038. Ryanair, too, has grown its low-cost offer. Together with other carriers, they handled thousands of fans arriving for football’s Africa Cup of Nations, in December 225, and running through 18 January 2026. But the year as a whole was strong too. Tourism revenues reached a record 124 billion dirhams (€11.5 billion) from January to November.
Overall, Morocco’s airports handled 36.3 million passengers in 2025, 3.6 million more than in 2024, reflecting the government’s “Aéroport 2030” strategy, according to airport authority ONDA. The five largest represent nearly all (90%) of traffic between them, Casablanca handling 32%, Marrakech 28%, and Agadir 10%. In fact, Marrakech Airport broke through the 10 million passenger threshold, while regional hub Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca surpassed 11 million passengers in December alone. It is set to gain a major new 600,000-m² terminal that will allow it eventually to handle up to 30 million. Rabat Salé leapt 26% to handle more than 2 million passengers. Traffic at Tanger increased by 17%.
@visit_morocco_ Explore the vibrant souks and magical streets of Marrakech 🌟 Let the city’s charm captivate you! 📷 by @thatdreamelsewhere #VisitMorocco #Marrakech #City ♬ son original – Visit_morocco_
With visitor numbers already 50% higher than pre-pandemic benchmarks, Moroccan authorities have ambitions to hit 26 million visitors per year by 2030, when the Kingdom is set to co-host the FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. Marrakesh’s central square is undergoing refurbishment ahead of that event.
Egypt
Meanwhile, Egypt’s arrival numbers reached 19 million in 2025, an even bigger increase than Morocco’s, at 21% year-on-year. Egypt can attribute the development of its sector to much-awaited cultural launches, such as that of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest archaeological museum venue representing a $1-billion investment in a new showcase for the Pyramids and Giza artefacts.
Egypt’s Tourism Minister Sherif Fathi has announced a target of 20 million visitors in 2026, and 30 million by 2031, but to achieve that, infrastructure growth is required to provide more beds as hotel occupancy is bursting across the country.
Ancient silence and stunning views. Pitch your tent in the Siwa Oasis and wake up to magic. This is the peace your soul craves.#ExperienceEgypt #VisitEgypt #Egypt pic.twitter.com/E94FZiOMf6
— ExperienceEgypt (@ExperienceEgypt) December 25, 2025
The data for both Egypt and Morocco is good news, but perhaps not a surprise. Tourism across Africa is not properly tracked by any analysts or authority, but figures from both the World Travel & Tourism Council and UN Tourism show these two North African nations outstrip tourism performance elsewhere in the continent.
