Market Trends of Morocco Tourism and Hotel Industry
Tourism: A Driving Force for Morocco’s GDP Growth
Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Moroccan economy. In 2019, tourism contributed MAD 81.4 billion to Morocco's gross domestic product (GDP). Benefits of tourism include income generation, job creation, and positive impacts on the image of the country. Morocco's geographical variety, combined with favorable weather and its proximity to key European tourist markets, has made it one of the most attractive and competitive destinations in Africa. Industries in the sector, such as air and land transport, food service, and hospitality, generate significant employment opportunities for young people. Massive investments in new infrastructures, such as new airport terminals, roads, and railways, and the relaxed visa requirements for citizens of some countries, such as China, are two factors in Morocco's success. With improving infrastructure, safety, and security, Morocco is on its way to becoming a premier destination for an increasing number of tourists.
Morocco Expanding Tourism Infrastructure in Southern Provinces
With an unspoiled coastline, vast swathes of desert, and a unique cultural heritage, Morocco's three southern provinces have the right ingredients to support a sustainable tourism industry.
Although the region lags behind others in terms of site development and accommodation, private and public initiatives are helping to open up new opportunities for niche products and increase visitor traffic.
Given the range of attractions and low development levels, there are significant opportunities for growth in the tourism sector in the country. Tourism accounted for very less percentage in southern provinces, which is partly due to the limited air links with the more heavily populated north, where the primary international airports are located, as well as underdevelopment of accommodation and niche services.
The tourism sector has not achieved its full potential due to several factors, such as poor communication at the regional and national levels on the region's potential, the low bed capacity, animation, and entertainment services.
This dynamic is changing, however, thanks to the national tourism development strategy, Plan Azur 2020, which is facilitating the build-out of tourism capacity in the southern provinces. Additional flights have begun linking the three major cities to Casablanca and the Canary Islands; Dakhla, for instance, has 10 weekly flights to Agadir and Casablanca combined. As a result, a combination of large-scale investments and smaller family-owned hospitality businesses has been increasing local supply and raising the region's profile with local and foreign visitors alike.
