Tourist arrivals in Morocco reached 14.6 million as of October, Minister of Tourism Fatim-Zahra Ammor said today.
The minister made her remarks during a speech at a signing ceremony of an agreement between Morocco’s Tourism Office (ONMT) and Ryanair.
The agreement concerns the launch of two flights linking Dakhla to Madrid and Lanzarote.
Ammor said the number of tourist arrivals surpassed the entire record for 2023 in just 10 months, attributing the performance to the 2023-2026 tourism roadmap launched by the ministry.
She said the performance represents a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2023, accounting for 2.3 million additional arrivals.
The growth concerns both foreign tourists, with an increase of 22% and Moroccans living abroad, whose arrivals saw an increase of 16%.
“October’s performance was exceptional, with approximately 1.5 million tourists received, a remarkable 30% increase compared to October 2023,” she added.
Ammor also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership signings with international airlines, noting that such agreements have helped connect Morocco to several global markets.
Recalling major partnerships, Ammor cited a three-year cooperation agreement with Ryanair, which will provide 10 million seats for Morocco by 2027.
The airline will offer 5.6 million seats to and from Morocco this year, including 500,000 domestic seats, she explained, adding that this reflects a 37$ increase compared to 2023.
Ryanair operates 15 aircraft in Morocco, including seven in Marrakech, three in Agadir and Fez as well as two in Tangier.
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A fifth base is expected to open in Rabat, the minister added, noting that Dakhla also plays an important role in the 2023-2026 tourism roadmap.
Tourism has continued to develop in the city, which is widely considered a globally coveted destination for water sports.
Dakhla recorded 250,000 overnight stays by September, representing a 26% increase. Hotel occupancy rates rose by 7% points to 40%.
Dakhla receives three weekly flights from Paris as well as two flights from Las Palmas.
In January next year, Dakhla will be connected to both Madrid and Lanzarote through Ryanair with two weekly flights to each destination.
The new routes will add 16,000 additional seats, increasing the capacity by 50%.
This is a major step toward the goal of having four international flight routes to Dakhla within two years, she said, noting Morocco’s determination to maintain its position as an attractive destination on the global stage.
Morocco hosted 14.5 million tourists last year and is aspiring to attract 15 million tourists this year. By 2026, Morocco aims to attract 17 million tourists and 26 million others in 2030.
