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Rabat – A new report issued by an EU-based online market research firm, ResearchAndMarkets.com, says that Morocco is one of Africa’s leading tourist markets.
The recent report, “Destination Market Insights Morocco”, provides a detailed analysis of Morocco as a tourist destination. The report mentions that Morocco attracted 10 million foreign visitors in 2016 with an eventual goal of being one of the top 20 global tourist destinations.
The survey report notes that the country aims to grow the industry significantly in coming years, guided by the Moroccan Department of Tourism’s 2020 Tourism Strategy which aspires to “double the size of the tourist industry.”
The firm has also underscored the surge in hotel construction in Morocco. “Between 2016 and 2021, the number of hotels in Morocco is expected to increase by 30.8 percent,” as the number of tourists visiting the country rises quickly, added the report.
The report added that France is the largest source of tourists traveling to Morocco, accounting for 36.1 percent of all arrivals in Morocco in 2016. Spain was second, providing 14 percent of arrivals. Additionally, the firm added that France is the largest outbound market for Moroccans traveling abroad.
Seventy-four percent of tourists who arrived in Morocco in 2016 were from Europe, with the largest inbound markets being France, Spain and the UK. Last year January to October tourist arrivals in Morocco posted a nine percent increase over the same period in 2016.
Morocco has also begun to attract tourists from new markets over the past few years, including China, South Korea, Brazil, Japan and Russia.
Highlighting Morocco’s top tourist destination, Marrakech, the report says that the city “is the most popular tourist destination in the country, comprising 34.5 percent of total overnight stays in Morocco in 2016.”
The ResearchAndMarkets.com report added that several tourist-related construction projects are being planned for the city, “including numerous hotel projects and a new airport which is due to open in 2030.”
The report is aimed at giving business leaders and potential investors a better understanding of the business, tourism and travel sector opportunities in the country, as well as the risks, to better support informed investment decisions.
