Rabat – The Moroccan tourism sector appears to be continuing its impressive growth trajectory, as highlighted by the latest figures from the Directorate for Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) in their recent economic report. According to the report, the North African kingdom recorded over 1.3 million arrivals in January 2026 alone, marking a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. This statistic underscores Morocco's rising appeal as a year-round destination for travelers.
A significant factor contributing to this positive trend was the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025), which took place in Morocco until mid-January 2026. This major sporting event led to a remarkable boost in the accommodation sector, with overnight stays in classified establishments across the country increasing by 12%.
Particularly notable growth rates were observed in cities such as Rabat (+42%), Casablanca (+36%), and Ouarzazate (+35%). Traditional tourist hotspots like Marrakech and Agadir also solidified their numbers. This regional distribution of growth highlights that, alongside popular sports events, the cultural diversity of Morocco continues to serve as a strong magnet for international visitors.
In tandem with the influx of guests, financial figures also showed disproportionate positive development. According to the DEPF, travel revenue in January 2026 increased by 19.3%, totaling 11.7 billion Moroccan Dirhams (approximately 1.08 billion Euros). In the previous year, this figure stood at 9.8 billion Dirhams.
The main drivers of this growth are primarily the European source markets, with Poland showing a remarkable 40% increase and France at 14%. Visitors from North America (+15%) and Italy (+6%) also contributed to the rise.
Morocco's national infrastructure managed to handle a massive passenger volume in the first month of the year, with the country's airports welcoming over 3.1 million passengers, representing a 14.7% increase. Notably, traffic with the rest of the African continent saw a dynamic increase of 28.9%, while connections with America increased by 30.7%. This supports Morocco's strategic positioning as an international hub between continents. While the port and cruise sectors also recorded significant growth by the end of 2025, air travel currently serves as the backbone for Morocco's ambitious tourism growth targets.
As reported by maghreb-post.de.
