Tourism receipts in foreign currency reached, according to preliminary figures, 20 billion dirhams (MMDH) for the first five months of this year, up 173% compared to 2021, said Monday, the Minister of Tourism, Crafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor.
Ms. Ammor, who was answering a central question on “encouraging domestic tourism and preparing for the tourist season” in the House of Representatives, noted that these revenues show a recovery rate of 71% compared to 2019.
During the same period, the number of tourist arrivals in Morocco was multiplied by 4.5 compared to 2021, to reach 2.3 million tourists, i.e. a recovery rate of 52% compared to 2019. minister.
At the regional level, the number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments has tripled in Marrakech and Agadir and doubled in several other destinations such as Tangier, Errachidia, Dakhla, Rabat and Casablanca, said Ms. Ammor.
And to add that an overnight recovery rate of 100% was recorded in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, 86% in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, 76% in Béni Mellal-Khénifra and l’Oriental and 66% at the level of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region.
This positive performance is due to “the wisdom with which Morocco managed the crisis, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which enabled the Kingdom to maintain its attractiveness and credibility, as well as the involvement of all players in the sector, including professionals,” said the minister.
Morocco is thus, once again, among the main destinations in the programs of international tour operators, rejoiced Ms. Ammor, reporting an aircraft occupancy rate of 75% at the end of last May.
In this regard, she noted that the efforts of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) with the airlines have made it possible to currently have a capacity greater than that recorded in 2019, affirming that the work is continuing through in particular the strengthening of existing air links, the increase in weekly flights and the opening of new lines.
The Minister also highlighted the efforts made by her Department and the ONMT to highlight the tourist assets available to the regions of the Kingdom, stressing that the objective is to enable all regions to benefit benefit from the recovery of Tourism and not only known destinations.
With regard to supporting hotels in maintenance, upgrading and training operations, the Minister mentioned the granting of financial support to 737 tourist accommodation establishments, noting that requests received concerned all the regions, while the amounts of subsidies varied between 7 million dirhams and 2,500 dirhams.