Morocco's tourism is at its best in its history
Tourist arrivals in Morocco are continuing, as confirmed by the Minister of Tourism, Fatima-Zahra Ammor. ‘Despite the fact that we are in the process of compiling data, all indicators point to positive results,’ she said.
‘Beyond the numbers and statistics, these figures demonstrate the tangible impact of the tourism sector on the Moroccan economy, which translates into job creation, regional development and general economic stimulation,’ Fatima-Zahra Ammor commented.
The data presented by the Ministry is explained by the arrival of Moroccans living abroad who return to Morocco during their holidays. Many of them were part of Operation Marhaba-Passage of the Strait.
According to data presented by the Ministry of Tourism, the Souss-Massa region recorded an 8% increase in the number of overnight stays and a 4% increase in arrivals. The north, including Tangier, Asila and M'diq-Fnideq, recorded a 12% increase in overnight stays and an 11% increase in arrivals. Marrakech, one of the most visited cities in the country, also recorded an increase of 6 and 8% respectively.
The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, where water sports and beach tourism are the main attractions, also saw its figures improve. Despite being further away from the rest of the country's major cities, the Dakhla region grew the most with 32%. This figure is a clear example that investments in infrastructure and connectivity work in the short and medium term.
In the same statement, Ammor clarified that the results of the eastern regions did not meet expectations, but still achieved a remarkable growth compared to those provided by the Ministry in 2023.
Thanks to the ministry's results provided by the Moroccan National Office of Tourism (ONMT) and the National Confederation of Tourism (CNT), this year's revenues are expected to be well over 10.5 billion dollars. With the aim of increasing these figures, the minister presented the Kafaa project.
Kafaa Project
Tourism is one of the country's main economic drivers. With a total of 18.1 million passengers in seven months, Morocco is the 19th country to receive the most travellers in the whole year. With the aim of reaching 26 million tourists by 2030, which would place Morocco among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of arrivals per year, the Minister of Tourism presented the Kafaa programme.
This tourism regeneration plan will provide more than 7,550 jobs over the next two years. To this end, the programme will aim to achieve 1,100 certifications per year so that companies, especially in the hotel and catering sector, will have the least amount of hassle when looking for and hiring staff.
The programme will give preference to local companies and reception, catering and accommodation staff. Among the objectives is to give greater recognition to the skills of tourism professionals in order to encourage more students to enter the sector.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the National Confederation of Tourism (CNT) is the key pillar for the smooth running of the programme.
In the words of Minister Ammor, ‘investment in human resources is one of the pillars on which the Ministry is focusing more efforts’. ‘Raising the industry to the highest international standards is what Morocco's tourism sector aspires to. We believe that the first step is to give recognition to workers by creating an ecosystem that provides them with an adequate standard of living,' she concluded.
As a result of this project, it is expected that the estimated growth in tourism will not only be met in terms of numbers, but that it will attract tourists who spend more money and who, at a higher percentage than at present, decide to invest in the country.
The Cap Excellence plan
As part of the Kafaa project, the Cap Excellence plan consists of modernising vocational training throughout Morocco. To this end, the CNT, together with the Ministry of Tourism, will promote an advanced e-learning platform.
These measures will be provided to education professionals of the Continuing Excellence Training. These professionals will be provided with a manual detailing the new functioning of professional education focused on tourism in order to train more than 2,000 new professionals per course.
One of the main reasons why tourists choose to repeat their visit year after year is the hospitality, an aspect in which Morocco stands out. Politeness and courtesy make tourists feel comfortable, which leads many of them to spend more money and even set up businesses, not least because of the living conditions, especially in the north of the country.
