The ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta, alongside Morocco's role in this situation, has severely impacted the demand for travel from Spain to the North African nation. The tourism sector is witnessing a significant decline in bookings for the last quarter of the year, with many travelers canceling pre-arranged trips. Carlos Abella, the Secretary General of the Tourism Table, has indicated that cancellations could reach up to 80% for September, a peak travel month for Morocco. He emphasized that the situation is quite challenging, both in the short and medium term.
On the other hand, the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV) has expressed concerns not only about the cancellation of existing bookings but also about the slowdown in new reservations. They are carefully monitoring the situation and hope for a swift resolution in Ceuta, which would allow for a return to normalcy in tourism activities.
Spain's Significant Role in Moroccan Tourism
Spain holds the position of being the second-largest source of visitors to Morocco, following France. According to the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), over four million Spanish tourists visited Morocco in 2024, with projections of 4.2 million by November 2025, accounting for approximately 23% of international arrivals. However, it is important to note that not all travelers from Spain are tourists; a considerable portion consists of Moroccan residents in Spain visiting family or attending to personal matters. A more stringent statistic from the Moroccan Tourism Observatory recorded around 1.5 million Spanish tourists in 2024, highlighting the difference in measurement methodologies among various sources.
In recent years, Morocco has experienced significant growth in its tourism sector, with 19.8 million visitors recorded in 2025, marking a 14% increase from the previous year, as reported by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. The associated revenue reached 116.2 billion dirhams (approximately 10.6 billion euros) in 2024, a 38.4% increase compared to 2019 in nominal terms. Consequently, the travel sector now represents 7.3% of Morocco's GDP, on par with remittances sent by Moroccans living abroad. Furthermore, the sector generates around 8.2% of employment and constitutes nearly 41% of service exports, according to data compiled by the OECD. Thus, the downturn in the second-largest source market threatens a vital sector for employment and foreign currency inflow.
The rising popularity of Morocco as a tourist destination has prompted several Spanish hotel chains to expand their presence in the country. Barceló Hotel Group operates eleven establishments across Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat, and Agadir. Despite the decrease in Spanish demand, the company states that they have not yet observed any impact on their business. They report that reservation levels in their Moroccan hotels remain within the normal range for this time of year. This resilience can be attributed to the international nature of their clientele, which includes not just Spanish travelers but also visitors from France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and other markets, as well as Moroccan guests. Therefore, the decline in Spanish bookings may not immediately affect overall hotel occupancy rates.
Similarly, Riu Hotels has reported that the events in Ceuta have not had any "direct effect" on their occupancy or operations at their hotels in Morocco, partly because Spain is not among the most significant source markets for this destination. Riu has maintained a presence in Morocco for over twenty years in partnership with the local Tikida group, operating six hotels in the country. The chain continues with its development plans, having remodeled the Riu Palace Tikida Agadir in 2025, and aims to renovate the Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout by summer 2027.
Airlines have also made substantial investments in Morocco. Ryanair operates bases in Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tangier, and Rabat, with sixteen aircraft assigned to these routes. The airline connects numerous Spanish airports to Moroccan destinations and has even expanded its domestic network within the kingdom. Vueling has focused its growth from Barcelona, offering direct flights to Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Essaouira, Nador, and Fez.
Thus far, neither hotel chains nor airlines have announced any structural changes to their plans. The sector believes that the duration of the current crisis will determine whether the slowdown in Spanish reservations is a temporary issue or if it will start to impact overall occupancy rates and investments in one of the Mediterranean's fastest-growing tourist markets.
As reported by lavanguardia.com.
