Morocco overtakes Egypt as Africa's top tourist destination
Egypt has been dethroned. The beautiful coral reefs, the blue of the Red Sea, the pyramids of Giza, and ancient temple complexes scattered throughout the country do not help. Egypt has just ceased to be the most visited country in Africa by tourists.
Morocco has taken over the leading position from Egypt. According to the local Ministry of Tourism, the country with its capital in Rabat was visited by 15,900,000 tourists by the end of November this year. This represents a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Egypt plans to welcome 15,300,000 foreign guests by the end of this year.
Morocco is mainly visited by tourists from France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The number of visitors from the UK increased by as much as 47% this year. The main attraction is Marrakesh, often called the "red city."
Other popular travel destinations along the Atlantic Ocean coast include Agadir, Tangier, and Casablanca. Notably, Marrakesh has 34 direct flight connections with airports in France.
Tourism is a key sector of Morocco's economy, generating 7% of GDP, which amounts to $9.2 billion in revenue this past year.
The country's authorities anticipate that by 2030, the number of tourists visiting will increase to 26 million. Plans for 2025 aim for 17.5 million foreign guests.
