Tourism in Morocco is well developed, maintaining a strong tourist industry focused on the country's coast, culture, and history. The Moroccan government created a Ministry of Tourism in 1985. [ 1 ] Tourism is one of the main foreign exchange sources in Morocco and since 2013 it has had the highest number of arrivals out of the countries in Africa. [ 2 ] According to the Ministry of Tourism, a record 17.4 million tourists visited Morocco in 2024, up 20% compared to 2023. [ 3 ] History and future plans Morocco has seen rapid growth in the number of tourists visiting over the past few decades. In the second half of the 1980s and the early 1990s, between 1 and 1.5 million Europeans visited Morocco. Most of these visitors were French or Spanish , with about 100,000 each from Britain , Italy , Germany , and the Netherlands . Tourists mostly visited large beach resorts along the Atlantic coast, particularly Agadir . About 20,000 people from Saudi Arabia visited, some of whom bought holiday homes. Receipts from tourism fell by 16.5% in 1990, the year the Gulf War began. In 1994, Algeria closed its border with Morocco after the Marrakesh attack, which caused the number of Algerian visitors to fall considerably; there were 70,000 visitors in 1994 and 13,000 in 1995, compared to 1.66 million in 1992 and 1.28 million in 1993. In 2017, there were 10.3 million tourist arrivals, compared with about 10.1 million in 2016, a 1.5% year-over-year increase. 30% of the tourists were one of the 3.8 million Moroccans living abroad. Marrakesh itself had over 2 million visitors in 2017. [ 6 ] In 2019, more than 13 million tourists visited Morocco . In 2020, Morocco witnessed an all-time low with no more than 4 million tourists, due to the spread of COVID-19 . [ 7 ] However, the Merzouga region has become a focal point for Morocco desert trips, characterized by a significant growth in luxury desert camps in the Erg Chebbi dunes that offer upscale glamping experiences for international travelers. In 2023, Marrakesh was voted a Top 10 Best Destinations for International Tourists by Tripadvisor . [ 8 ] In 2023, Morocco set a new record for the number of tourists visiting, reaching 13.2 million, breaking the former record of 12.9 million that was set in 2019. [ 9 ] Morocco intends to leverage its co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup to further boost long-term tourism. In 2025, it received close to 20 million tourists - the most among African countries. [ 10 ] It hopes to draw 35 million foreign visitors annually by 2030, with that year's total estimated to include 1.2 million football fans attending World Cup games in Morocco. [ 11 ] To prepare for the anticipated tourism boost for the global football tournament, in March 2026 national tourism development agency (SMIT) unveiled plans to expand hotel capacity by one-fifth, adding 25,000 hotel rooms in the next four years. [ 12 ] Tourism industry Tourist receipts in 2007 totaled US$ 7.55 billion. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Morocco, after the phosphate industry. The Moroccan government is heavily investing in tourism development. [ 14 ] A new tourism strategy called Vision 2010 was developed after the accession of King Mohammed VI in 1999. The government targeted that Morocco will have 10 million visitors by 2010, with the hope that tourism will then have risen to 20% of GDP. Government-sponsored marketing campaigns to attract tourists advertised Morocco as a cheap, exotic, and safe place for European tourists. [ citation needed ] Morocco's relatively high number of tourists has been aided by its location, tourist attractions, and relatively low price. Cruise ships visit the ports of Casablanca and Tangier. Morocco is close to Europe and attracts visitors to its beaches. Because of its proximity to Spain, tourists in southern Spain's coastal areas take one- to three-day trips to Morocco. Marrakesh and Agadir are the top two destinations in the country. [ 15 ] Air services between Morocco and Algeria have been established, many Algerians have gone to Morocco to shop and visit family and friends. Morocco is relatively inexpensive because of the interesting dirham exchange rate compared to major currencies and the increase of hotel prices in neighbouring Spain. Morocco has an excellent road and rail infrastructure that links the major cities and tourist destinations with ports and cities with international airports. Low-cost airlines offer cheap flights to the country. The " Plan Azur ", is a large-scale project initiated by King Mohammed VI, is meant to provide for creating six coastal resorts for holiday-home owners and tourists (five on the Atlantic coast and one on the Mediterranean), the Daily Telegraph noted. The plan also includes other large-scale development projects such as upgrading regional airports to attract budget airlines, and building new train and road links. Through these efforts the country achieved an 11% percent rise in tourism in the first five months of 2008 compared with the same period the previous year, it said, adding that French visitors topped the list with 927,000 followed by Spaniards (587,000) and Britons (141,000). Morocco, which is close to Europe, has a mix of culture and the exotic that makes it popular with Europeans buying holiday homes. [ citation needed ] [ 16 ] Tourist attractions The country's attractions can be divided into seven regions: [ 17 ] The four Imperial cities — the four historical capital cities of Morocco: Fez , Marrakesh , Meknes and Rabat Casablanca — Morocco's largest city; home of the Hassan II Mosque , which has the world's second tallest minaret at 656 feet [ 18 ] Tangier and the surrounding area Ouarzazate — a noted film-making location; the fortified village (ksar) of Ait Benhaddou west of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site [ 19 ] Agadir and its beach resorts Tarfaya and its beach resorts Fez – Morocco's second largest city and it is the science and spiritual capital of Morocco. [ 20 ] It contains an old area which is considered the biggest area in the world where vehicles can't get in. It is also the home of " Al Qarawyien " the world's oldest university. Merzouga – Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco, about 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Rissani, about 55 km (34 mi) from Erfoud and about 50 km (31 mi) from ... Agafay – The Agafay desert is a desert located about thirty kilometers from the red city of Marrakesh, on the first heights of the High Atlas massif in Morocco. This is a reg several hundred hectares in area. It is covered with stones and rocks in a hilly environment of white and ochre-coloured dunes. While Morocco was a French Protectorate (from 1912 to 1956) tourism was focused on urban areas such as the Mediterranean cities of Tangier and Casablanca. Tangier attracted many writers, such as Edith Wharton , Jack Kerouac , Paul Bowles , and William S. Burroughs . There was a period of beach resort development at places such as Agadir on the Atlantic coast in the 1970s and 1980s. [ 21 ] Tourism is increasingly focused on Morocco's culture, such as its ancient cities. The modern tourist industry capitalizes on Morocco's ancient Roman and Islamic sites, and on its landscape and cultural history. 60% of Morocco's tourists visit for its culture and heritage. [ 21 ] Agadir is a major coastal resort and has a third of all Moroccan bed nights. It is a base for tours to the Atlas Mountains . [ 17 ] Other resorts in north Morocco are also very popular. [ 22 ] Casablanca is the major cruise port in Morocco, and has the best developed market for tourists in Morocco. [ 17 ] As of 2006, activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains are the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism. These locations have excellent walking and trekking opportunities from late March to mid-November. [ 21 ] The government is investing in trekking circuits. They are also developing desert tourism in competition with Tunisia . [ 21 ] UNESCO World Heritage Sites Morocco is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Fez was the capital city of modern Morocco until 1925 and is now the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region. The city has two old medina quarters , the larger of which is Fes el Bali . It is listed as a World Heritage Site and is believed to be one of the world's largest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas). [ 32 ] University of Al Quaraouiyine , founded in 859, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world. [ 33 ] [ 34 ] The city has been called the " Mecca of the West" and the " Athens of Africa", a nickname it shares with Cyrene in Libya . [ 35 ] Fez is a popular tourist destination and many non-Moroccans are now restoring traditional houses (riads and dars) as second homes in the Fez medina. The most important monuments in the city are: Bou Inania Madrasa Al-Attarine Madrasa University of Al Quaraouiyine Zaouia Moulay Idriss II Ibn Danan Synagogue Marrakesh in central Morocco is a popular tourist destination. Riad tourism in Marrakesh has shaped the urban fabric of the city. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] According to Mauro Spotorno in 2018, the medina of Marrakesh has been cultivated since the French protectorate as a setting for Westerners that corresponds to the Orientalist stereotypes of the Muslim world, and "more and more frequently traditional houses of the historical centre have been restored and renovated into hotel facilities, and nowadays, the medina is an interesting study case of the processes of gentrification ." [ 38 ] For Khalid Madhi, the case of tourism in Marrakesh raises questions of heritage commodification , power relations between locals and tourists, the long-term sustainability of tourism-driven urban policy, and the appropriation of land, culture, and memory. [ 36 ] According to Nancy Nabeel Aly Demerdash, "Marrakesh is framed and famed to promise hedonistic pleasures" and "such perpetuated representational tropes actually materialize the oriental fantasy for the consumer; consequently, Marrakesh has become more of a product than place." [ 37 ] Marrakesh is popular among tourists for one- and two-day excursions that provide a taste of Morocco's history and culture. [ 22 ] The Majorelle botanical garden in Marrakesh is a popular tourist attraction. It was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980. Their presence in the city helped to boost the city's profile as a tourist destination. [ 39 ] Tangier, formerly the International Zone from 1923 to 1956, is a city in north of Morocco. Formerly part of the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco , Tangier is a blend of Spanish, Moroccan, and Berber cultures. Famous tourist sites in the city and near it include the Tangier-American Legation , Hercules Cave, the Kasbah museum, the Perdicaris Parc, the Musée de Carmen-Macein , Museum of Moroccan Arts and Antiquities , Museum of Contemporary Art , the Grand Socco , the Petit Socco , and Gran Teatro Cervantes . El Jadida , formerly called Mazagan by the Portuguese, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, on the basis of its status as an "outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures" and as an "early example of the realisation of the Renaissance ideals integrated with Portuguese construction technology". According to UNESCO, [ 40 ] the most important buildings from the Portuguese period are the cistern, and the Manueline Church of the Assumption. El Jadida is also home to the annual Salon du Cheval–the largest horse expo in Africa. [ 41 ] Among Morocco’s most frequently recommended destinations are its historic cities, desert landscapes, and coastal resorts, which are regularly featured in travel guides for international tourists. [ 42 ] Caution is advised [ 43 ] due to terrorism. Recent examples are April 2011 terrorist attacks in Marrakesh , the Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland in Imlil December 2018. According to international travel advisories, Morocco is generally considered safe for visitors when exercising standard precautions, with most guidance emphasizing awareness in crowded areas and checking official travel updates before visiting. [ 44 ] Economy of Morocco Investment in Morocco Museums in Morocco Surfing in Morocco Visa policy of Morocco ↑ Hudman, Lloyd E.; Jackson, Richard H. (2003). Geography of Travel & Tourism . Cengage Learning. ISBN 0766832562 . ↑ "The Most Visited Countries in Africa" . 25 April 2017. ↑ Atalayar (2025-01-12). "Morocco breaks its tourism record with 17.4 million visitors in 2024" . Atalayar . Retrieved 2025-01-13 . ↑ "Morocco: International tourist trips" . Our World In Data . August 17, 2024. ↑ "Global and regional tourism performance" . www.unwto.org . Retrieved 2025-06-12 . ↑ "Tourism in Marrakech Breaks All Records in 2017" . 2018-01-02. ↑ AfricaNews (2022-02-12). "Morocco tourism sector struggles to pick up days after reopening" . Africanews . Retrieved 2023-01-24 . ↑ Rahhou, Jihane (22 January 2023). "Marrakech Features on Top 10 Best Destinations for International Tourists" . moroccoworldnews . Retrieved 2023-01-24 . ↑ "Morocco sets new record for tourist arrivals in November 2023" . HESPRESS English - Morocco News . 2023-12-14 . Retrieved 2023-12-15 . ↑ El Jechtimi, Ahmed (5 January 2026). "Morocco receives 19.8 million tourists in 2025, tourism ministry says" . Reuters . Retrieved 23 April 2026 . ↑ Staff, Iqal Analysis (2026-04-21). "Morocco's World Cup 2030: Infrastructure, Growth and Global Ambitions" . Iqal Analysis . Retrieved 2026-04-23 . ↑ Karam, Soheil (26 March 2026). "Morocco Eyes $4 Billion Hotel Boom for 2030 FIFA World Cup" . Bloomberg . Retrieved 23 April 2026 . 1 2 3 Key Figures Summary ↑ "Inspiring a tourism revolution in Morocco" . www.worldfinance.com . Retrieved 2019-03-21 . ↑ Bazza, Tarek (2019-01-23). "Over 12 Million Tourists Visited Morocco in 2018, Up 8% from 2017" . Morocco World News . Retrieved 2019-03-21 . ↑ Norwood, Graham (25 October 2008). "Royal welcome on the road to Morocco" . The Telegraph . 1 2 3 Hudman, Lloyd E. (2002). Geography of Travel & Tourism . Thomson Delmar Learning. p. 367. ISBN 0-7668-3256-2 . ↑ Museyon (2009-06-01). Film + Travel Asia, Oceania, Africa: Traveling the World Through Your Favorite Movies . Museyon. ISBN 9781938450341 . ↑ "You're Not a World Traveler Until You Visit these UNESCO sites" . pastemagazine.com . Retrieved 2017-11-22 . ↑ Gilbert, Sarah (2017-07-25). "Fez's medina gets new riads, restaurants and restored monuments" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 2017-11-22 . 1 2 3 4 Shackley, Myra (2006). Atlas of Travel And Tourism Development . Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 43– 44. ISBN 0-7506-6348-0 . 1 2 The Middle East and North Africa 2003 . Europa Publications, Routledge. 2002. p. 863. ISBN 1-85743-132-4 . ↑ "Medina of Fez" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Medina of Marrakesh" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Historic City of Meknes" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Archaeological Site of Volubilis" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin)" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)" . UNESCO . Retrieved 28 May 2010 . ↑ "Rabat, modern capital and historic city: a shared heritage" . UNESCO . Retrieved 30 June 2012 . ↑ Mother Nature Network, 7 car-free cities ↑ Oldest University ↑ "Medina of Fez" . UNESCO World Heritage Centre . UNESCO . Retrieved 7 April 2016 . ↑ History of Fes 1 2 Madhi, Khalid (2019-04-17). Urban Restructuring, Power and Capitalism in the Tourist City . Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-47092-9 .

1 2 Demerdash, Nancy Nabeel Aly (2009). Mapping myths of the medina : French colonial urbanism, Oriental brandscapes and the politics of tourism in Marrakesh (Thesis thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ↑ Spotorno, Mauro (2018-06-01), "Gentrification and European Entrepreneurship in Marrakesh" , Mediterranean Mobilities , Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 167– 176, ISBN 978-3-319-89631-1 , retrieved 2026-03-20 ↑ Mortraveling (2022-04-01). "Thematic itineraries in Morocco" . Retrieved 2022-04-01 . ↑ "Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre" . Whc.unesco.org . Retrieved 2013-02-10 . ↑ "Le Salon du Cheval d'El Jadida: 11 ans déjà!" . 2M (in French) . Retrieved 2019-03-21 . ↑ "The Best Places to Visit in Morocco" . Traveling Around Morocco . 25 May 2025 . Retrieved 2025-09-15 . ↑ "Morocco Travel Advisory" . U.S. Department Of State . 2022-10-05 . Retrieved 2022-11-22 . ↑ "Is Morocco Safe to Visit?" . Traveling Around Morocco . 2 June 2025 . Retrieved 2025-11-20 . Rabat , Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) Archaeological Site of Volubilis Historic City of Meknes Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) Medina of Marrakesh Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou Automotive industry Renewable energy Wind power Solar power Information technology Science and technology Telecommunications Casablanca Stock Exchange Casablanca Finance City Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM) Airports of Morocco Royal Air Maroc Tanger-Med port Casablanca port Agadir Agreement Morocco–United States FTA Ministry of Economy and Finance Bank Al-Maghrib Moroccanization General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises Economic history Currency: Moroccan dirham Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain) Madeira (Portugal) Mayotte / Réunion (France) Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom) Kingdom of Mauretania Mauretania Tingitana Idrisid dynasty Barghawata Confederacy Kingdom of Nekor French Protectorate Spanish Protectorate Operation Torch 2011–12 protests Prefectures and provinces World Heritage Sites Foreign relations King Alawi dynasty list Sûreté Nationale Military Inspector general Inspector general Human rights Abortion LGBT rights Prime Minister list Bank Al-Maghrib Telecommunications Jewellery of the Berber cultures Languages Arabic Moroccan Arabic Hassaniya Arabic Berber French Arabic Moroccan Arabic Hassaniya Arabic Moroccan Arabic Hassaniya Arabic Moroccan people diaspora World Heritage Sites in Morocco Tourism in Morocco Tourism in Africa by country Articles with short description Short description with empty Wikidata description Articles needing additional references from February 2024 All articles needing additional references Pages using the EasyTimeline extension All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2024 CS1 French-language sources (fr)