Morocco aims to attract 17.5 million tourists and create 200,000 new jobs by 2026.

Morocco continues to see an increase in tourist arrivals: the latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism indicate that the North African country attracted 2.9 million tourists in the first quarter of 2023.

Recent tourist arrivals represent an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2019, according to a statement issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Crafts, and Social and Solidarity.

Data collected by the ministry attributes the upward trend to the growth of outbound tourism markets, including the Spanish, British, Italian and American markets, which have grown by 45%, 28%, 9% and 5%, respectively.

"Tourism in Morocco continues its rise to levels never seen before, as demonstrated by the exceptional figures recorded at the end of March 2023," the ministry highlighted in its statement.

Recalling the various initiatives it carried out with the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) to promote tourism, the Ministry committed to redoubling efforts to improve marketing and strengthen air connectivity throughout 2023.

The ONMT aims to place Morocco among the 10 best destinations in the world through its recently developed 2023-2026 action plan, called "Light in Action."

The office's action plan focuses on improving four pillars: marketing, airline, digital and distribution.

The action plan of the Tourism Office is part of the Moroccan tourism roadmap 2023-2026, presented on March 17 by the Minister of Tourism, Fatim Zahra Ammor.

The roadmap aims to attract 17.5 million tourists and create 200,000 new jobs between now and 2026.

At the end of February of this year, Morocco received 1.9 million visitors, representing an increase of 4,64% compared to the same period in 2022, according to the country's Tourism Observatory.

Source: MoroccoWorldNews