English Corner

Traditional Berber architecture near Tamellalt: a glimpse into Morocco's cultural heritage. Image: Adobe Stock

The new tourism high-flyer in Africa

With 17.4 million international visitors in 2024, Morocco secures the top spot among Africa's most popular tourist destinations. Investments in infrastructure and the 2030 FIFA World Cup are expected to further boost the boom.

Morocco has enjoyed a record year in tourism: the North African country welcomed a record 17.4 million international guests in 2024. Compared to the previous year, this represents a growth of 20 percent. According to a press release, this has positioned Morocco as the leading tourist destination on the African continent, ahead of Egypt and South Africa.

Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor is pleased with the development: «We have achieved our goal two years ahead of schedule», she says. The country plans to increase visitor numbers to 26 million by 2030. A key factor in achieving this goal will be hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

To meet the growing demand, Morocco is investing heavily in its tourism infrastructure. New hotels, road improvements and additional flight connections should further improve the offering. According to the latest Travel Risk Map, which classifies Morocco as a «low risk» country, it also scores well in terms of security – comparable to countries such as Germany, the USA or Australia.

With its variety of landscapes, historic cities such as Marrakech and modern resorts, Morocco has become an attractive destination for different target groups. The government sees this as an opportunity to establish the country as a top destination on the global market in the long term.

(TN)