The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism has released tourist data for the past year, revealing that Morocco has become Africa’s most visited destination, attracting 17.4 million visitors.
According to data from UN Tourism, Africa welcomed 6% more tourists between January and September 2024 than in the same months in 2019. Previously, Egypt was Africa’s most visited destination, with 15.7 million arrivals over the last twelve months, a record in itself.
Thanks to various efforts from Morocco, the country experienced a 20% rise in visitor numbers compared to 2023, and over 33% compared to the pre-pandemic peak of 13 million visitors in 2019. Among them, 51% were foreign tourists, while 49% were Moroccan expatriates.
“These remarkable figures represent a major step towards our goal of positioning Morocco among the top 15 global tourist destinations,” said Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor in a statement. “Morocco as a destination made a strong impact in 2024. With 17.4 million tourists by the end of December, Morocco is ahead of schedule in meeting the ambitious target set out in its roadmap, initially scheduled for 2026.”
To rank among the top 15 global tourist destinations, Morocco must surpass Japan, which hosted 25 million visitors in 2023 according to the UN, while data for 2024 is still pending.
Regarding tourism revenue, Morocco registered $11 billion in tourism spending, compared to $10,5 billion in 2023. However, Egypt won the race in terms of spending with $14,1 billion in revenue in 2024.
In 2024, several factors have driven Morocco’s tourism growth. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor announced 120 new airline routes, notably a nonstop flight from Newark to Marrakesh via United Airlines. Additionally, luxury brands like Four Seasons, Royal Mansour, and Nobu launched hotels across the country, complementing newly established locations from these luxury brands.
While predictions for 2025 may be premature, the outlook for tourism in the country appears positive. The Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin at the end of this year, from December 21st to January 18th, 2026. Additionally, in 2030, Morocco will co-host the FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, anticipating an influx of around 26 million visitors.