Casablanca – Morocco’s tourism sector has begun 2026 on a solid upward trajectory, confirming its continued recovery and expansion as one of the country’s most dynamic economic pillars. Recent data from the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) indicate that the Kingdom welcomed more than 1.3 million tourists in January 2026, representing a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

This performance reflects a combination of favorable factors, including the impact of major international events, improved air connectivity, and sustained demand from key international markets. The organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026, played a particularly important role in boosting arrivals and enhancing Morocco’s global visibility as a travel destination.

Growth driven by key international markets

The rise in tourist arrivals has been largely supported by stronger flows from several strategic markets. European countries remain the primary source of visitors, with France leading the increase at +14%. Poland recorded the most significant growth among European markets, with a sharp rise of 40%, highlighting Morocco’s growing appeal in Eastern Europe.

Other markets also contributed to this positive momentum, including Italy (+6%) and Belgium (+5%). Meanwhile, long-haul markets continued to expand, with arrivals from the United States rising by 15% and Canada by 10%. This diversification of source markets reflects Morocco’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its international tourism positioning beyond traditional regions.

Strong expansion in overnight stays

One of the most notable indicators of sector performance is the sharp increase in overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments. By the end of January 2026, overnight stays had risen by 12%, indicating not only higher arrivals but also longer stays and increased visitor engagement.

This growth was observed across several major tourist destinations. Rabat recorded one of the highest increases at 42%, followed by Casablanca at 36% and Tangier at 31%. Southern and inland destinations also showed strong performance, with Ouarzazate up 35% and Errachidia up 29%.

Coastal and leisure destinations maintained steady growth as well. Agadir saw overnight stays rise by 11%, while Marrakech and Essaouira recorded increases of 7% each. Fez also posted a solid gain of 10%, reflecting balanced growth across cultural, urban, and seaside tourism segments.

Tourism revenues approach $1.21 billion

Tourism revenues experienced a significant rise at the start of the year, underlining the sector’s improving profitability. In January 2026, revenues reached approximately $1.21 billion, marking a 19.3% increase compared to about $1.01 billion recorded a year earlier.

This growth suggests not only an increase in visitor numbers but also higher spending per tourist, supported by diversified tourism offerings and improved service quality.

Air transport sees sustained momentum

Air transport continues to play a crucial role in supporting tourism growth. Moroccan airports handled more than 3.1 million passengers in January 2026, representing a 14.7% increase year-on-year. This expansion was driven by both international traffic, which grew by 14.9%, and domestic traffic, which rose by 13.1%.

From a geographical perspective, air traffic growth was particularly strong with the Americas (+30.7%) and Africa (+28.9%), reflecting Morocco’s expanding connectivity with these regions. Traffic with the Middle East and Far East increased by 15.9%, while Europe and Maghreb countries recorded growth rates of 13.2% and 13.7%, respectively.

Air cargo activity also showed positive development, increasing by 7.4% during the same period, further indicating broader economic activity linked to tourism and trade.

Maritime transport and cruise tourism recover

In parallel, maritime transport continued to demonstrate steady growth. In 2025, Moroccan ports handled a total commercial traffic volume of 262.6 million tons, reflecting an 8.9% increase following a stronger rise of 15.2% in 2024. This growth was supported by higher transshipment activity (+14.7%), as well as moderate increases in imports (+2.8%) and exports (+1.4%). Coastal shipping also recorded a notable rise of 24.3%.

Passenger traffic through ports reached nearly 5.6 million travelers in 2025, up 5.4%, indicating a gradual recovery in maritime mobility.

Cruise tourism, in particular, experienced a strong rebound. By the end of 2025, cruise passenger numbers had increased by 41.7%, with more than 383,000 visitors arriving via cruise ships. This segment is expected to continue contributing to the diversification of Morocco’s tourism offerings.

Outlook for the sector

The early indicators for 2026 highlight the resilience and adaptability of Morocco’s tourism sector. The combination of major international events, diversified source markets, and improved infrastructure continues to strengthen the country’s position as a leading destination in Africa and the Mediterranean region.

If current trends persist, Morocco is well-positioned to achieve further growth throughout the year, supported by strategic investments, enhanced connectivity, and sustained global demand for travel.