The Marrakech Regional Tourism Council and the Essaouira Provincial Tourism Council are actively participating in the IFTM Top Resa 2026 event from September 15 to 17, showcasing Essaouira with a dedicated stand. This initiative highlights the ongoing commitment to promote the region as a premier travel destination.
France remains the historical leading market for Moroccan tourism. In 2025, French tourists accounted for nearly 7.97 million overnight stays in Morocco, marking a 3% increase compared to 2024 and a significant 12% rise from 2023. This upward trend has continued into the first half of 2026, with an 8.5% increase in overnight stays. As a result, Morocco has secured its position among the top six favorite destinations for French travelers, according to the Enterprises du Voyage barometer.
This strong relationship is further supported by an extensive air service between France and Morocco. For the summer 2026 season, a total of 157 direct flight routes will connect the two countries, offering nearly 3.7 million available seats, which represents a 5% increase over the summer of 2025. About twenty French cities are directly linked to the Kingdom, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Montpellier, Strasbourg, and Nice, thus enhancing accessibility to the destination for the entire French customer base. Notably, Marrakech alone accounts for over a third of these arrivals, boasting 44 direct routes from France.
In line with this growing connectivity and in recognition of Essaouira's spotlight this year, easyJet has launched a new direct route from Nantes to Essaouira for the winter 2026-2027 season, further improving accessibility to the City of Alizés from France. This comprehensive air network is a significant asset for the region, bolstering the competitiveness of Marrakech-Safi against other Mediterranean destinations.
Beyond traditional leisure tourism, several strategic segments are gaining focus in the French market, receiving particular attention from the CRT Marrakech and the CPT Essaouira. These include experiential tourism, appealing to clients seeking authenticity and immersion; business tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events), supported by robust infrastructure and expertise; the rapidly growing wedding segment; and golf tourism, which benefits from a renowned international course offering.
Through their participation in IFTM Top Resa 2026, the CRT Marrakech and the CPT Essaouira reaffirm their commitment to strengthening ties with French tourism professionals and collaboratively promoting a diversified and complementary regional offering.
As reported by premiumtravelnews.com.
