Marrakech – Despite setbacks, Morocco’s tourism sector anticipates further expansion in 2024, leveraging its impressive recovery to reach pre-pandemic arrival levels achieved in 2019 by the preceding year, according to consulting firm, Fitch Solutions.
In a recent projection, BMI, a leading provider of insights, data, and analytics owned by Fitch Solutions, predicts that Morocco’s tourism arrivals will experience year-on-year growth of 6.2% in 2024, reaching a total of 15.4 million.
This forecast marks a significant upward revision from their earlier prediction for 2024, which anticipated 13 million arrivals.
The revised outlook reflects a positive trajectory for the country’s tourism industry.
Notably, this adjustment follows the January 2024 announcement detailing Morocco’s arrivals for the preceding year, which is a robust 14.5 million arrivals, setting a promising foundation for continued growth in the sector.
This represents a remarkable 112.1% surge from pre-pandemic figures in 2019, significantly surpassing earlier expectations.
Initial projections for 2023 had estimated Morocco’s arrivals at 11 million for the year, anticipating a return to pre-pandemic levels.
However, BMI forecasts were revised to take a downward turn following the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook theHigh Atlas Mountain range near Marrakech in September 2023, claiming the lives of 2,900 individuals.
European tourists, including those from Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands, constitute the majority of Morocco’s arrivals. The report highlights Marrakech and Agadir emerging as favored destinations, especially in the winter months.
Additionally, Morocco attracts a significant number of tourists from Middle Eastern markets like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who are inclined towards luxurious and leisurely holiday experiences.
According to BMI’s projections, arrivals are anticipated to reach 17 million in 2026, slightly below the government’s target of 17.5 million arrivals for the same year.
However, the forecast indicates a surge to 17.6 million arrivals in 2027, followed by a projected increase to 18 million arrivals in 2028.
This trajectory reflects an average annual growth rate of 4.4% year-on-year throughout the forecast period from 2024 to 2028.
Upside risks to BMI’s forecast are attributed to the intensified government emphasis on advancing and broadening Morocco’s tourism offerings, recognizing the sector as a crucial revenue driver for the market.
