Morocco has come out on top.
According to a recent report from the Ministry of Tourism, the nation was the most visited country in Africa last year—and it’s on track to become even more popular in 2025, Bloomberg reported. In 2024, the Kingdom of Light welcomed a whopping 17.4 million international tourists, which helped it overtake Egypt to claim the top spot. However, the continent’s former tourism leader clocked 15.7 million arrivals last year, which also set a new record.
When it comes to volume, Morocco’s tourism numbers have been on the upswing following the pandemic. For example, the 17.4 million arrivals in 2024 were a 20 percent leap from 2023 and a hefty 33 percent spike compared to 2019 when it received 13 million tourists. In fact, the country’s current level of tourism activity is already two years ahead of what was projected.
“These remarkable figures represent a major step towards our goal of positioning Morocco among the top 15 globalist tourist destinations,” said tourism minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said in a press statement. To earn a slot in the ranking, Morocco would have to edge out Japan, which previously recorded 25 million visitors in 2023.
Aside from just attracting more international travelers, the country saw its tourism revenue skyrocket as well. In 2024, Morocco raked in $11 billion, which is a step up from the $10.5 billion it earned in 2023. Egypt, however, achieved a record-setting $14.1 billion last year in revenue, putting it ahead of Morocco.
There are several reasons why Morocco’s tourism numbers have skyrocketed, including the addition of 120 new airline routes last year. Most notably, American Airlines now offers a nonstop flight from Newark to Marrakech. There’s also been a crop of new luxury hotels popping up from brands such as Four Seasons and Nobu.
Looking ahead, the country has some exciting events lined up that’ll no doubt draw even more visitors. This year, Morocco is set to host the Africa Dup of Nations (AFCON), a biennial soccer tournament. Further out, the country will serve as one of the hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup along with Spain and Portugal. By that time, the number of international visitors is expected to shoot up another 50 percent to 26 million tourists.
