Morocco has set a new tourism milestone, surpassing 14.6 million visitors by the end of October 2024, outpacing the total number of arrivals for all of 2023 in just 10 months. The country’s tourism sector has seen a remarkable 19% growth compared to the same period last year, adding 2.3 million more tourists, according to Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicraft, and Social and Solidarity Economy.
Ammor made the announcement during a signing ceremony in Dakhla, where the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and Ryanair unveiled plans to launch two new direct flights starting in January 2025. These routes will connect Dakhla to Madrid, Spain, and Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, further bolstering Morocco’s tourism infrastructure.
The impressive figures are largely attributed to a 22% increase in international tourists, accounting for an additional 1.3 million visitors, and a 16% rise in arrivals from Moroccan expatriates, who added another million to the total. October 2024 alone saw a record 1.5 million visitors, reflecting a 30% year-on-year surge from the same month in 2023.
This surge highlights Morocco’s growing prominence as a top global travel destination, with its varied regions offering unique experiences that continue to captivate tourists from around the world.
In Dakhla, the tourism sector has experienced a notable expansion, with 250,000 overnight stays in September 2024, marking a 26% increase from the previous year. Hotel occupancy rates also rose by 7 percentage points to reach 40%. Air traffic to Dakhla has similarly grown, with a 30% increase in available seats for 2024, totaling 31,000. The city is now served by three weekly flights from Paris, including one operated by Royal Air Maroc and two by Transavia, as well as two weekly flights from Las Palmas operated by Binter Canaria.
Looking ahead, the introduction of new international routes connecting Dakhla to Madrid and Lanzarote will increase seat capacity by 50%, adding an additional 16,000 seats to the region’s air travel options. This development is seen as a crucial step toward Morocco’s goal of establishing four international air routes to Dakhla within the next two years.
With its continued growth in tourism and air connectivity, Morocco is solidifying its position as a leading destination in the global tourism market.
