The number
19.8 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, a 14% increase from 17.4 million in 2024. Morocco surpassed its own government target of 17.5 million, which was set for 2026, a full year ahead of schedule.
Context
Morocco is now Africa's most visited country, narrowly ahead of Egypt at roughly 19 million arrivals. Five years ago, during the pandemic low of 2020, Morocco received just 4 million visitors. The recovery since then has been one of the steepest in global tourism.
Tourism revenue reached MAD 138 billion (approximately $13.8 billion), exceeding the government's roadmap target by MAD 18 billion. In January 2026 alone, revenues hit MAD 11.65 billion, up 19.3% from January 2025 (Morocco Ministry of Tourism, February 2026).
The sector now employs 894,000 people directly, according to the HCP (Haut Commissariat au Plan, March 2026). That represents 92,000 new jobs created over three years, beating the roadmap's target of 80,000 additional positions by 2026.
Trend
Arrivals have climbed every year since 2021. The trajectory: 10.1 million in 2016, 13 million in 2019, a COVID crash to 4 million in 2020, then a sharp rebound through 10.87 million (2022), 14.52 million (2023), 17.4 million (2024), and 19.8 million (2025).
The government now targets 26 million visitors by 2030, anchored by the FIFA World Cup that Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Infrastructure spending to support that goal includes expanding the high-speed rail network and adding roughly 100,000 new hotel beds (Morocco Ministry of Tourism, January 2026).
Morocco tourist arrivals by year (millions)
What to watch
The 2030 target of 26 million depends on two variables: hotel capacity and air connectivity. Morocco currently lacks roughly 100,000 beds to host that volume, and new routes from European low-cost carriers will need to extend beyond Marrakech and Casablanca to secondary cities like Tangier, Fez, and Essaouira. The FIFA World Cup provides the deadline. Whether the infrastructure arrives on time will determine if the growth curve bends or breaks.
Sources
Morocco Ministry of Tourism via Morocco World News, February 2026. Haut Commissariat au Plan (HCP), March 2026. DabaFinance arrivals data, December 2025. Travel and Tour World, February 2026.
