Rabat – Moroccan travelers are spending significantly more on international trips this year, with a remarkable 49.2% increase in the first seven months of 2023.
Data from the monthly report by the Exchange Office on external trade indicators revealed that Moroccans’ spending on foreign travel during this period has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
In the first seven months of 2023, Moroccans’ expenditure on international travel reached MAD 14.4 billion ($1.4 billion), compared to MAD 9.6 billion ($942 million) in the same period last year.
Notably, Moroccans spent a significant MAD 4.7 billion ($457 million) on travel in July alone, according to the Exchange Office.
This surge has propelled their expenditures well beyond what was seen in 2019 when it reached MAD 11.7 billion.
The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a long shadow over the travel sector, with spending dropping to MAD 6.1 billion in 2020 and a modest MAD 5 billion in 2021.
Yet, a ray of hope has emerged as travel spending experienced a revival last year following the easing of travel restrictions.
As the summer holiday season began, Moroccans’ interest in travel agencies offering packages to a wide range of tourist destinations surged, notably to Turkey and a number of Asian countries.
Read also: Tourists’ Expenditures in Morocco Rose by 52% in 2023
In addition to tourism, Moroccans travel abroad for various other reasons that involve significant expenditures in foreign currency, including religious pilgrimages, education, professional training, business endeavors, medical treatment, and visiting family.
In January 2021, the Exchange Office increased the maximum amount of foreign currency Moroccan citizens could carry when traveling abroad to MAD 100,000 annually, previously capped at MAD 45,000.
This limit can go as high as MAD 300,000 under specific conditions, offering Moroccans flexibility during personal trips abroad, whether for leisure, medical treatment, or pilgrimage.
