The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicraft and Social and Solidarity, on Thursday, announced an unprecedented increase in tourists arriving the country after a long lull occasioned by the impact of the global pandemic two years ago.
The Ministry said it recorded an impressive 2.9 million tourists in the first quarter of 2023, a figure which indicates that the North African country is one of the most attractive tourism sites on the continent.
According to the ministry, the recent tourist arrivals represent an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2019.
Data compiled by the ministry attributed the upward trend to the growth in outbound tourism markets including the Spanish, British, Italian and American markets which have grown by 45%, 28%, 9% and 5% respectively, it said.
“Tourism in Morocco continues its rise to levels never seen before, as evidenced by the exceptional figures recorded at the end of March 2023,” the ministry reported in its statement.
“Recalling the various initiatives it carried out with Morocco’s National Tourism Office (ONMT) to boost tourism, the Ministry vowed to redouble efforts toward improving marketing and reinforcing air connectivity throughout 2023.
“ONMT seeks to position Morocco among the world’s Top 10 destinations through its newly developed 2023-2026 action plan called “Light in Action.
“The office’s action plan focuses on improving four pillars which are marketing, airline, digital, and distribution, while tourism office’s action plan is part of Morocco’s 2023-2026 tourism roadmap, which was launched on March 17 by Tourism Minister Fatim Zahra Ammor.
“The roadmap aims to attract 17.5 million tourists and create 200,000 new jobs by 2026,” it added.