Morocco is on track to retain title as Africa’s most visited country, after its tourism sector demonstrated strong growth in the first quarter of 2026, welcoming 4.3 million tourists between January and March.
This represents a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy.
According to Reuters, the ministry attributed the growth to strengthened air connectivity, a diversification of source markets, and improved accommodation and entertainment offerings across the country.
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Tourism revenue reached 21.4 billion dirhams ($2.3 billion) by the end of February, up 22.2% from a year earlier, according to foreign exchange regulator data.
It could be recalled that Morocco remained Africa’s most visited destination last year, attracting 19.8 million tourists, a 14% increase from 2024. Since 2023,
Morocco has added 43,000 new hotel beds, powered by a wave of domestic and international private investment. The sector also received a seasonal boost in December, when tens of thousands of football fans travelled to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, held from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18.
The government is targeting 26 million annual visitors by 2030, when Morocco will co-host the FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, positioning tourism as a key pillar of long-term economic growth.
