Africa is becoming ever more popular with globetrotters, with visitor numbers surging in recent years. The continent welcomed a whopping 74 million travellers last year, a 12% rise from 2023.
Among the perennial favourite destinations are countries such as Egypt, South Africa and Kenya to mention just a few. But it is another country that is experiencing a real explosion in tourism growth and breaking records.
Morocco saw a record-breaking 17.4 million international travellers visit the country last year – up 20% on 2023.
The North African country became the most visited one in 2024, according to the agency UN Tourism.
Morocco offers a wide range of experiences, from exploring vibrant imperial cities and bustling souks to trekking in the Sahara Desert and relaxing on the Atlantic coast.
Its rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality make it a rewarding destination for travellers.
The country will play host to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, along with Spain and Portugal – and has ambitious plans to expand the tourism sector.
The government is hoping to almost double tourist numbers by 2030 to a massive 26 million annual visitors.
Officials estimate Morocco will need 100,000 extra beds as a minimum to accommodate the visiting football fans and teams.
Plans are already underway to build the extra capacity, with a number of international hotel chains stepping in to help.
A slew of new accommodations will be opening across the country as a result, from the Waldorf Astoria in Tangier to 25 new Radisson Hotels due to open before 2030.
Football games will be hosted in the country’s lesser visited cities – such as Casablanca, Agadir, Fez, Rabat and Tangier.
Fez in particular makes a fascinating place to visit, and is Morocco’s cultural capital with the largest Medina in the world.
The city is also home to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, which was founded in 857 and is the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world.