Morocco came out on top.
According to a recent report from the Ministry of Tourism, the country was the most visited country in Africa last year and is expected to become even more popular in 2025, Bloomberg reported. In 2024, the Kingdom of Light will welcome 17.4 million international tourists, overtaking Egypt for the top spot. But the continent's former tourism leader recorded 15.7 million arrivals last year, also setting a new record.
In terms of volume, the number of tourists in Morocco is on the rise after the pandemic. For example, the number of arrivals in 2024 was 17.4 million, an increase of 20% from 2023 and a significant 33% increase compared to 2019, when it received 13 million tourists. In fact, the current level of tourism activity in the country is already two years ahead of projections.
“These remarkable figures represent a major step towards our goal of positioning Morocco among the top 15 global tourist destinations,” Tourism Minister Fatim Zahra Anmor said in a press statement. For Morocco to earn a spot in the ranking, it must at least slightly surpass Japan, which recorded 25 million visitors in 2023.
In addition to attracting more international travelers, the country has also seen a surge in tourism receipts. Morocco's revenue in 2024 was $11 billion, an increase from $10.5 billion in 2023. But Egypt achieved record revenue of $14.1 billion last year, surpassing Morocco.
There are several reasons for Morocco's surge in tourist numbers, including the addition of 120 new airline routes last year. Most notably, American Airlines operated a nonstop flight from Newark to Marrakech. New luxury hotels are popping up one after another from brands like Four Seasons and Nobu.
There are some exciting events planned for the country in the coming years, which are sure to attract even more tourists. This year, Morocco is set to host the biennial football tournament, the Africa Dup of Nations (AFCON). Furthermore, in the future, the country will be one of the host countries for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, along with Spain and Portugal. By then, the number of international tourists is expected to increase by another 50% to 26 million.
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