The flow of tourist arrivals in Morocco rose by 34% at the end of 2021, after a 78.5% decline a year earlier, according to the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Compared to the end of 2019, these arrivals have fallen by 71.2%, said the DEPF in its February 2022 economic note, adding that overnight stays in classified accommodation have increased by 51.1% during the month of December alone, despite the suspension of passenger flights to and from Morocco.
At the end of 2021, these nights have increased by 31.8%. They are still down 63.6%, compared to their level recorded at the end of 2019.
As for tourist receipts, they fell, year-on-year, by 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, after an increase of 203.2% in Q3-2021, following the closure of national borders in late November.
At the end of the year 2021, these revenues have approached 34.3 billion dirhams, down 6% compared to the end of 2020 and 56.5% compared to the end of 2019 or MAD 44.5 billion.
The DEPF also reported that in Q4-2021, the tourism sector has maintained its gradual recovery started in the second quarter of 2021, despite the closure of national borders from 29 November 2021. However, these results remain far from their pre-crisis level.
Thus, for the 4th quarter of 2021, the number of arrivals at the Moroccan destination has strengthened year-on-year by 61.1%, after a decline of 79.8% a year earlier. This development is due to the growth in the number of foreign tourist arrivals and their increasing share in the overall number of arrivals in Morocco.
The number of foreign tourists increased by 209.3%. They thus represent 47.5% of total arrivals, after 25% in Q4-2020 and 63% in Q4-2019.
The 12.4% growth in the number of Moroccans abroad (after -59% a year earlier) also contributed to the increase in overall arrivals, although to a lesser extent.
