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Rabat – The tourism sector generated last year revenues totaled MAD 70 billion, with a strong growth in the number of non-resident tourist arrivals, overnight stays in Tourist Accommodation Establishments (EHTC) and foreign exchange earnings, announced the Ministry of Tourism.
The number of overseas visitors at border posts reached 11.35 million, Â a 10 percent increase from 2016, representing an increase of more than 1 million tourists. This increase concerns the quasi-majority of Morocco’s main EU markets, such as Germany (+ 15 percent), the Netherlands and Italy (+ 9 percent), France and Spain (+ 8 percent), as well as the United States, which experienced a significant increase of + 29 percent.
Furthermore, figures from the other markets show very encouraging signs: + 151% for China, + 39% for Japan and + 38% for Brazil.
As far as overnight stays are concerned, they leaped by 15% driven by an 18% increase in overnight stays by non-resident tourists which counterbalanced an 7% plunge in overnight stays by resident tourists.
The majority of the country’s tourist destinations have seen significant increases in their overnight stays. The strongest growth was recorded in the cities of Fez (+ 39%), Ouarzazate (+ 37%), Tangier (+ 25%), Marrakech (+ 17%), Agadir and Casablanca (+ 11%), indicates the Ministry of Tourism.
Henceforth, occupancy rate reached 43% in 2017, scoring a rise of 3pts compared to the year 2016. Regarding tourism receipts, they also rose by 8.5% to stand at MAD 69.7 billion in 2017 against MAD 64,2 billion in 2016.
