Casablanca – Morocco’s tourism sector continued to expand through the first nine months of 2026, with the country welcoming 15.7 million tourists by the end of September, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy. The total represents a 5% increase from the same period of 2025 and more than 717,000 additional arrivals.

The latest performance keeps Moroccan tourism on an upward path after a record year in 2025 and places the country closer to its target of attracting 26 million tourists annually by 2030. The September figures also indicate that visitor demand is remaining relatively strong outside the main summer and holiday periods.

More than 1.5 million tourists visited Morocco in September alone, an increase of 8% compared with September 2025. The monthly result was particularly significant because it came after the main summer travel period, suggesting that the destination continues to attract visitors during other parts of the year.

The ministry said the figures demonstrate the ability of Moroccan tourism to maintain its growth momentum beyond periods of peak activity. This development is important for the sector because a broader distribution of tourist arrivals across the year can support more stable activity for accommodation providers, restaurants, transport companies, tour operators and other businesses connected to tourism.

Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said the sector continues to show positive momentum and retains substantial potential for further growth. She said the objective of reaching 26 million tourists by 2030 is becoming increasingly attainable, while stressing the need to ensure that higher visitor numbers generate greater economic value, employment and development opportunities across Morocco’s regions.

The latest arrivals data comes after a strong performance in 2025. Morocco welcomed nearly 20 million international tourists last year, representing growth of about 14% compared with 2024. The increase established a higher base for the tourism sector entering 2026 and strengthened expectations that Morocco could continue expanding its international visitor market.

Tourism has also become an increasingly important source of foreign-exchange earnings. Travel receipts reached about $10.1 billion during the first eight months of 2026, based on the latest data from Morocco’s Foreign Exchange Office. This represented an increase of 9.7% from the same period a year earlier.

At the same time, Moroccan residents increased their spending on travel abroad. Outbound travel expenditure rose by 6.6% during the first eight months of the year to about $2.4 billion. The difference between incoming and outgoing travel flows left Morocco with a travel surplus of approximately $7.7 billion at the end of August, up 10.8% year on year.

The increase in tourism receipts alongside the rise in arrivals provides an indication of the sector’s contribution to the country’s external accounts. Higher foreign-exchange earnings can support Morocco’s balance of payments while strengthening the economic contribution of tourism beyond the direct activity generated by hotels and travel businesses.

The sector accounted for around 7% of Morocco’s gross domestic product in 2025, while tourism receipts reached about $13.8 billion during the year. The combination of visitor growth and higher receipts has made tourism one of the country’s major sources of foreign currency.

Morocco is also seeking to spread tourism activity more widely across the country. While destinations such as Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca and Tangier continue to attract large numbers of visitors, investment programs are increasingly targeting regions with natural and cultural resources that remain less developed from a tourism perspective.

One example is the Fès-Meknès region, where the Regional Investment Center has launched new opportunities for tourism projects in Boulemane, Taounate and El Hajeb. The projects include tourist accommodation, ecotourism facilities and campsites designed around local environmental and cultural characteristics.

The investment opportunities include a lodge and an ecomuseum with lodges in Boulemane, a three-star tourist residence designed around the architectural style of traditional Jbala villages in Taounate, and a four-star or higher campsite and lodge in El Hajeb.

The regional investment program follows earlier calls for tourism projects launched during 2026. In March, six projects were selected from 11 proposals, representing combined investment of about $12.7 million and the creation of 164 direct jobs. Additional projects were subsequently proposed in several provinces, reflecting efforts to develop tourism facilities outside the country’s most established destinations.

The expansion of tourism infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as Morocco works toward the 2030 target. Reaching 26 million annual visitors would require additional accommodation capacity, transport links, tourism services and attractions capable of handling higher demand while maintaining service standards.

Air connectivity is another factor supporting the expansion of Morocco’s tourism market. The country has continued to add international routes and increase links between European markets and regional Moroccan airports. Greater connectivity can help distribute tourist flows beyond the largest established destinations and make smaller cities and regions more accessible to international visitors.

The tourism sector’s growth also comes as Morocco seeks to increase the economic benefits generated by visitors. Rising arrivals can create demand across a broad network of businesses, including accommodation, food services, retail, cultural activities, transport and entertainment. The impact can be particularly relevant in regions where tourism provides an alternative source of income and employment.

However, the continued expansion of the sector also places greater demands on infrastructure and local services. Managing water resources, transport capacity, waste, accommodation quality and environmental pressures will become increasingly important as visitor numbers rise. Regional diversification could help distribute these pressures while creating new economic opportunities.

The first nine months of 2026 therefore provide a further indication of the direction of Moroccan tourism. The 15.7 million arrivals recorded by September already represent a significant increase in the number of visitors compared with the same period last year, while the 8% September increase points to sustained demand after the main summer season.

The financial figures reinforce this trend. With travel receipts reaching about $10.1 billion during the first eight months of the year and the travel surplus rising to around $7.7 billion, tourism is continuing to generate substantial foreign-exchange income for Morocco.

The remainder of 2026 will determine the sector’s full-year performance, but the results through September indicate that Morocco is maintaining the expansion achieved in recent years. The focus is increasingly shifting from attracting more visitors to ensuring that additional tourism activity creates value, employment and investment across a wider range of destinations.

For the 2030 tourism strategy, the challenge will be to combine higher visitor numbers with broader regional participation and sustained economic returns. The current figures suggest that Morocco remains on a growth trajectory, while the expansion of tourism investment and connectivity will determine how effectively the sector can accommodate the next phase of growth.