Morocco, among the top 24 tourist destinations in 2024 according to CNN Travel
Morocco's status as one of Africa's top tourist destinations has been endorsed by the report carried out by the travel section of the American television network CNN.
In this report, the main tourist destinations for the new year 2024 have been selected. Among them, there are only two destinations located on the African continent: Morocco and Angola, joined by other destinations in Asia, Oceania and America, such as Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Chile and Canada.
Morocco: landscapes and architecture
The CNN report highlights that Morocco has long been a favourite destination for tourists "for the diversity of its landscapes and spectacular architecture" and stresses that "it has recovered with determination after the devastating earthquake it suffered in September 2023".
It should be remembered that the earthquake affected some particularly attractive areas for travellers, such as the historic centre of the city of Marrakech.
In addition to the usual destinations, CNN encourages tourists to discover "other lesser-known gems of the Kingdom", such as Tetouan and Meknes, less frequented but just as attractive as Marrakech, Rabat or Fez.
The medina of Tetouan and the city of Meknes are two of the nine sites listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in Morocco, along with the medina of Fez; the medina of Marrakech; the fortress of Ait Ben Hodolou; the archaeological site of Volubilis; the medina of Essaouira; the Portuguese village of Mazagan and the city of Rabat.
World leader in sustainable tourism
In addition to highlighting Morocco's main tourist attractions, the CNN report recognises the country as a world leader in sustainable tourism, thanks to various initiatives that favour the production of renewable energy and the existence of several eco-friendly hotels on its territory.
According to CNN Travel, "Morocco is proving to be a world leader in sustainable tourism, with the implementation of several initiatives to boost its renewable energy generation".
One example is the Kasbah du Toubkal Hotel in Imlil, at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, which is run by Berbers.
Tourism is on the rise in Morocco
Data show that global tourism activity has grown by 90 per cent by 2023, compared to pre-pandemic levels. This will lead to an increase in the number of tourists visiting popular destinations, among which Morocco is carving out a niche for itself.
Morocco has competitive advantages such as the possibility of attracting tourists out of season; having destinations that usually go unnoticed compared to big cities and other more popular destinations; and the promotion of sustainable tourism.
All this has meant that, as of November 2023, Morocco has registered a total of 13.2 million tourist visits.
Revenues from the national tourism sector have grown from 84.12 billion dirhams in November 2022 to 97.4 billion dirhams in November 2023.
Essaouira
Another of Morocco's treasures for visitors is the city of Essaouira, listed by Travel Leeming as one of the top 50 tourist destinations for 2024.
Essaouira is ranked 28th on this list and is considered one of Morocco's coastal treasures, with great attractions for tourists interested in history and architecture, as well as for those looking for a tourist destination where they can enjoy the sea and water sports.
