Morocco’s tourism sector has registered an unprecedented 39% growth in October 2023, compared to the same period last year.

The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Crafts, and Social Solidarity revealed on Monday that the country has welcomed over 12 million visitors in 2023.

Despite initial concerns about the impact of the September 8 earthquake on tourism, Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor proudly declared: “We have just crossed the threshold of 12 million visitors in 2023, despite the challenges posed by the Al Haouz earthquake.”

Ammor emphasized that the achievement is a reflection of the country’s commitment to diversifying source markets, stating: “We are on track for a record-breaking year, aiming for 14 million tourists.”

Morocco’s tourism success in September, initially considered a record-breaking month with 960,000 tourists, has pointed for some to a sustained growth trajectory.

Morocco’s tourism sector is one of the most important in the country’s economy, contributing to the Moroccan GDP as well as the job market.

This has caused concern in recent years as the global tourism industry witnessed a downward trend due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the economic downturn caused by the resulting recession.

The September 8 earthquake in Morocco was another cause for concern, as it hit near Marrakech, one of the country’s premier tourist destinations. The industry, however, seems to be going strong, still on a trajectory to recover well from the COVID pandemic.

Read Also: CAF Women’s Champions League: Title-holder AS FAR Misses Out on the Finals

The post Moroccan Tourism Surges with Record 39% Growth in October 2023 appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.

According to the Financial Studies and Forecasts Department, tourist receipts increased by 179.1% year over year to reach 36.7 billion dirhams by the end of July 2022.

According to the DEPF’s economic note for September 2022, which notes that the rate of recovery of these revenues compared to their level prior to the crisis reached 88.4%, this performance is the result of the various steps taken to relaunch and energize the sector, including the reopening of national borders.

3.2 million arrivals to Morocco were registered between the months of June and July 2022, which is almost the same number as was seen during the same time in 2019.

Nearly 3.4 million tourists had entered the Kingdom by the end of the first half of 2022, up 303.4% from the same period last year after a decline of 57.3%. At the end of June 2022, there were 6.2 million overnight stays in classified accommodations, an increase of 128.9% from the previous year (after a decrease of -39.9%).

Arrivals and overnight stays at the end of June 2022 represented, respectively, over 63% and more than 54% of their pre-crisis level (end of June 2019).

Tourist receipts are still far above their pre-crisis level as of July 2022. They climbed by 17.8% as compared to July 2019 and combined the gains from June (+39.9%), May (+1.9%), and March 2022 (+12,1%).

According to the DEPF, these revenues increased by 7.6% from March to July 2022 to the same time in 2019, after declining by 71.7% the year before.

The post Tourism: 36.7 billion dirhams in revenue at the end of July 2022 appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.