Rabat – Morocco’s tourism revenues reached MAD 81.7 billion ($8 billion) in the first 11 months of 2022, indicate new data from the government.
The number represents a recovery rate of 112% compared to 2019, Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism FatimZahra Ammor said on Monday.
With this development, Morocco has also managed to recover nearly 84% of tourist figures throughout last year compared to 2019.
The North African country welcomed no less than 10.9 million tourists between January and November 2022, the minister explained on Monday.
Overnight stays amounted to 7.9 million, representing an increase of 23% compared to 2021. The figure was also 1% up compared to 2019.
“The tourism sector has shown good resilience and managed to resume its pre-COVID performance, thanks to a series of initiatives launched by the government to put tourism activity back on track with its achievements in the past,” Ammor said.
A vital industry in Morocco’s economy, the tourism sector was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 repercussions.
Following the outbreak of the pandemic in Morocco in March 2020, the North African kingdom introduced a set of measures – including travel restrictions.
The North African country has since eased travel restrictions – particularly those related to the mandatory vaccine pass and PCR, amid the notable decrease in COVID cases.
In September 2022, Morocco’s airport authority ONDA announced that PCR and vaccine pass are no longer mandatory to enter Morocco’s territory.
“Following the decision of the Moroccan authorities, [COVID-19] health restrictions (PCR or vaccine pass) to enter Morocco’s territory are lifted from today. Only the passenger’s health form must be duly completed,” ONDA said.
Prior to the easing of COVID-related restrictions, tourism operators, including travel agencies, suffered setbacks such as a lack of demand.
Still, Morocco’s tourism industry maintained its global appeal, featuring international newspapers and travel magazines, any of which have ranked the country among the top destinations to travel to in 2023.
Earlier this month, the Washington Post featured Morocco as one of the world’s top travel destinations for this year.
TripAdvisor also featured Moroccan destinations, including Fez and Marrakech, among its Travelers Choice Best of the Best Destination Awards 2023.
