Morocco overthrows Egypt as Africa top travel destination
Just one year after a terrible earthquake near its main destination, Marrakesh—Moroccola has named itself Africa most visited destination.
Morocco now has an advantage over Egypt, which had long been the continent’s top tourist destination. Despite breaking its own record with 15.7 million tourists in 2024, Egypt was unable to maintain its top spot.
Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism reports that the country’s tourism earnings reached a new high of $11 billion in 2024, up from $10.5 billion the year before.
With 17.4 million visitors in 2024—just one year after a terrible earthquake near its main destination, Marrakesh—Moroccola has named itself Africa’s most visited destination.
Morocco now has an advantage over Egypt, which had long been the continent’s top tourist destination. Despite breaking its own record with 15.7 million tourists in 2024, Egypt was unable to maintain its top spot.
Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism reports that the country’s tourism earnings reached a new high of $11 billion in 2024.
Morocco’s most popular tourist destination, Marrakesh, has shown a particularly strong recovery.
“After the earthquake, we had difficulties. However, things are better now than they have ever been. Nassim Ait Said, manager of the boutique hotel Riad Nelia in Marrakech’s old town, stated, “We’ve been completely booked for months.” “People are back to enjoy the beauty of Marrakech.”
According to Driss Zehrour, owner of Riad Vallée Vert in Douar Taourirte, next to Asni, 50 kilometers from Marrakesh, “the sight of tents and damaged homes doesn’t help attract sceptical tourists.” “Unlike Marrakesh, people are still scared to come here.”
In the most affected villages, hotel owners claim occupancy rates of less than 10%. Reconstruction has been excruciatingly slow; almost a year after the earthquake, the area is still strewn with debris and makeshift camps.
The administration has not provided an assurances to residents who have been criticizing the lack of action since last year.
The Moroccan Africa tourism ministry aims to set additional records, even though the recovery is still uneven
In a news statement this week, Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor stated, “These outstanding numbers are a significant step towards our goal of placing Morocco among the top 15 worldwide tourist destinations.”
Morocco would have to surpass nations like Japan, which received 25 million foreign visitors in 2023.
In a social media post, Ammor outlined a number of factors propelling Morocco’s expansion, such as the opening of 120 airline routes in 2024 (including United Airlines’ nonstop Newark-Marrakech route) and the opening of new luxury hotels throughout the nation from companies like Four Seasons and Nobu.
Morocco hopes to have 26 million tourists a year by 2030, when it will co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. This is 50% more than it currently receives.
Compiled by,
World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
