Morocco is set to consolidate its tourism momentum with international arrivals up by 35% since 2019 and tourism revenues reaching $10.5 billion, according to the country’s national tourism office.
In a landmark move, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, has signed a financial agreement to establish the United Nations’ first thematic office on tourism for innovation in Africa, to be based in Rabat.
The agreement was signed on Thursday with Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN Tourism, on the sidelines of the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council held in Madrid, Spain.
The new office aims to support the UN’s 2030 Tourism Agenda for Africa, positioning the sector as a key driver of development across the continent.
According to the data from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Africa has recovered 96% of its pre-pandemic visitor levels, with North Africa registering particularly strong performance.
At a Moroccan-themed gala dinner hosted in Berlin by the Agadir Souss-Massa Regional Tourism Council (CRT), Morocco’s Ambassador to Germany, Zohour Alaoui, hailed the strength of bilateral relations.
In 2024, Morocco welcomed a record 17.4 million international tourists a 20% increase from 2023, making it the most visited country on theAfrican continent, according to UN Tourism.
The UN agency also noted that over the past five years, Morocco has attracted an average of $3.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) annually across all sectors, with $2.2 billion directed to tourism between 2014 and 2023.
The UN Tourism Executive Director, Natalia Bayona, highlighted Morocco’sleadership in the region’s tourism industry, citing the country’s growing influence.
Tourism has become a key pillar of Morocco’s economy, contributing7.3% to national GDP by the end of 2023.
MK/te/lb/gik/APA