Morocco’s tourism engine continues its powerful surge, with official data confirming a remarkable 8% jump in overnight stays at classified establishments by the end of August 2026. Total nights spent in classified tourist accommodations, known as EHTCs, reached 30.9 million nationwide, a performance solidifying the sector’s post-pandemic recovery. The Observatoire du Tourisme reported this milestone, highlighting a parallel achievement in the nation’s hotel occupancy rates, which climbed to 57%, a full percentage point higher than the same period in 2025.
A Tale of Two Cities and Beyond: Where the Growth is Happening
This national success is not spread evenly; it’s a story of standout performances in key destinations. Rabat leads the pack with an astonishing 18% increase in overnight stays, followed by Ouarzazate at 16% and Casablanca at 11%. The southern hubs of Agadir and Marrakech, along with the Al Haouz region, each had a 9% rise. Even cities known for their steady tourism, like Tanger, Fès, and Errachidia, saw a healthy 7% bump in visitors. These figures paint a picture of a diversified tourism map, where both established capitals and emerging cultural centers are reaping the benefits of the national momentum.
The positive trend extends beyond just where people are sleeping. The number of tourists crossing Morocco’s borders during the first eight months of 2026 surpassed 14.1 million, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year. According to the Observatoire du Tourisme, travel revenues for this period hit 97.9 billion dirhams, a substantial 10% increase year-on-year.
From Record 2025 to Projected 2027: The Upward Trajectory
To understand the scale of this growth, one must look back at the year of 2025. The Kingdom welcomed nearly 20 million arrivals at its border crossings, a 14% jump from 2024, and generated 138.1 billion dirhams in travel receipts, an impressive 21% increase.
The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) is not just reacting to this success; it is actively planning for the future. The ONMT is planning to invest over 2.21 billion dirhams in 2027, signaling a commitment to continuing this upward trajectory. These investments are strategically aimed at developing new air routes, strengthening partnerships with tour operators and airlines, accelerating digital transformation, and diversifying key markets. This forward-looking plan is aligned with the national tourism roadmap for 2023-2026 and the overarching goal of attracting 26 million tourists by 2030.
Revenues Surpass 115 Billion Dirhams
While the Observatoire du Tourisme reported 97.9 billion dirhams in revenues through August, other outlets provide a fuller picture. Medias24 reports that by the end of September 2026, travel revenues had crossed the 115 billion dirham threshold, reaching 115.26 billion dirhams—a 12.1% increase from the previous year.
Medias24 notes that this surplus grew by 13.4% to reach 88.29 billion dirhams by the end of September 2026.
The Global Context: Who is Visiting and Why It Matters
Spain is the second-place market, with 3,025,647 arrivals, corresponding to 21% of the market, despite a 4% dip on one year. The United Kingdom and Belgium followed with arrivals of 995,663 and 978,562 respectively, with growth of 6% and 9%. Other significant markets like Germany and Italy also posted gains of 11% and 5%, respectively.
The Kingdom figure among the eight economies having recorded the strongest improvements over this period. Looking ahead, projections from Bank Al-Maghrib estimate travel revenues could reach 160 billion dirhams in 2027, further cementing tourism as a cornerstone of Morocco’s economic future.
