Tourist arrivals at border posts recorded a sharp rebound of 215% in the first four months of 2022, reaching 1.5 million, according to the Directorate of Treasury and External Finance (DTFE).
This increase follows an increase of 428% for foreign tourists and 129% for Moroccans residing abroad (MRE), indicates the DTFE in its recent economic note. Tourist activity showed a positive development at the start of 2022, boosted by the reopening of national borders from February 7, the improvement in the health situation and the implementation of an emergency program to an amount of 2 billion dirhams (MMDH) to support the sector. Compared to the same period of 2019, the total number of arrivals remains down by 59.5%, i.e. 69% for foreign tourists and 42.5% for MREs.
Similarly, the latest data available at the end of February indicate a 19.8% improvement in overnight stays in classified establishments, under the effect of an increase of +33.1% for non-residents and 15.5 % for residents. However, these nights represent only 27% of the total nights spent during the same period of 2019.
This performance should be strengthened over the coming months thanks in particular to the abolition of the obligation to present a PCR test at the air borders. The launch by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) of an unprecedented international campaign “Morocco, Land of Light”, also aims to quickly recover the country’s position before the health crisis and raise it among the destinations world’s most attractive.
