Discover Morocco

10/02/2025

Morocco's new civil aviation outlook would see 60 million travellers through all of the country's airports by 2030, and 90 million by 2035. The proposed target is in line with the hard work of the Moroccan government, which is seeking a massive expansion of the airport as part of its strategy to expand its air connections.

To speed up this process, the country plans to invest around 42 billion dirhams (4.2 billion dollars) in airport expansion projects by 2030. According to the Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, the planned investments seek to modernise and improve the infrastructure of the country's main airports by increasing their capacity and efficiency, including those in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez, Tétouan and Agadir.

https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/economy-and-business/morocco-plans-to-reach-90-million-passengers-in-its-airports-by-2035/20250209130000210789.html

10/02/2025

Sharjah is named Guest of Honour at the 30th Rabat International Book Fair, showcasing its rich culture, literary heritage, and tourism from April 17-27, 2025.

In recognition of the visionary cultural initiatives led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in celebration of Sharjah’s prominence as a global hub of knowledge, the Kingdom of Morocco has named Sharjah the official Guest of Honour at the 30th Rabat International Book Fair (RIBF). The highly anticipated event, organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, is set to take place from April 17 to 27, 2025, at the renowned OLM Souissi venue.

The announcement was formalized during a signing ceremony attended by Khoula Al Mujaini, Director of Events and Marketing at the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), and Latifa Moftaqir, General Coordinator of RIBF and Director of the Moroccan Archives Foundation.

This milestone reflects a significant step in strengthening Arab cultural exchange and fostering connections between intellectuals and literary figures from the UAE and Morocco. As Guest of Honour, Sharjah will unveil a vibrant cultural programme, emphasizing the UAE’s literary and artistic achievements and celebrating shared heritage and values with Morocco. The initiative aims to deepen mutual understanding and collaboration between the two nations.

Sharjah’s participation in RIBF will feature a diverse programme that captures the evolution of Emirati literature and arts. Over 15 Emirati publishers will showcase their latest works, and panel discussions will bring together prominent Emirati and Moroccan writers and intellectuals to exchange ideas and insights.

The cultural agenda also includes workshops designed for children, offering hands-on experiences that introduce them to Emirati heritage in an engaging way. Traditional performances will further highlight the UAE’s cultural diversity and creativity.

In celebration of Arabic calligraphy, Emirati and Moroccan calligraphers will collaborate on unique artworks, showcasing the rich artistic traditions that connect the two nations. Through this multifaceted programme, Sharjah’s participation will provide an immersive experience that bridges literature, art, and cultural heritage, creating a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange.

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uaes-sharjah-tourism-takes-the-spotlight-at-rabat-international-book-fair-in-morocco/

10/02/2025

Morocco has awarded contracts worth €430 million ($444 million) to expand the country’s high-speed rail network ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup, according to the successful French bidder.

The Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), the national rail operator, awarded three contracts to two subsidiaries of French civil engineering company Colas to extend a high-speed line from Kenitra, an industrial city on the Atlantic coast, inland to Marrakech, a historic tourism and conference centre.

The country already operates a Spanish-built TGV high speed train line from Casablanca, the commercial capital on the Atlantic, to Tangier on the Mediterranean.

Last month transport and logistics minister Abdul Samad Qayuh said that Morocco was planning to invest nearly 96 billion dirhams ($9.5 billion) to expand its rail network further over the next five years.

https://www.agbi.com/infrastructure/2025/02/work-accelerates-on-moroccos-high-speed-rail/

09/02/2025

When fashion met travel: the most stylish new riad in Marrakesh
Romeo Gigli has designed outfits for everyone from Nicole Kidman to Bianca Jagger. His latest project? An excitingly avant-garde hotel

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-travel/morocco/marrakesh/marrakeshs-most-exciting-new-riad-created-by-a-fashion-designer-gp30kf6sn

09/02/2025

09/02/2025

Nador 😍 Maldives du Maroc 🇲🇦

07/02/2025

In Morocco: Old-Hollywood Casablanca, Bright-Blue Chefchaouen, And Magical MarrakeshMorocco is Africa's most visited country, but Indian tourists account for only a miniscule percentage of the visitors

Marrakesh:
How many Indians do you think visit Morocco in a year? In 2024, a year that was exceptionally good for tourism in Morocco and saw 17.4 million international tourists, Indian visitors accounted for less than one percent. In fact, less than a quarter of a percent: 0.23% to be precise; or 40,000. The North African country sees very few tourists from India make their way to the shores of the Atlantic after navigating hours of flights and layovers in the Middle East or the Gulf.

Casablanca
Casablanca, that word which is a whole Hollywood love story in itself, is also the biggest city and main airport in Morocco. Add to that the Spanish, French, American, and African and Berber influences, and you have a place at once cosmopolitan and steeped in tradition.

Then there is that all-encompassing pop culture.

Casablanca; classic Hollywood where Humphrey Bogart fell in love with Ingrid Bergman and left the world pining for a love like that. The city has a cafe, Rick's, designed as a tribute to the gin joint from that great American film. The movie and its gin joint Rick's was all shot in a studio in the US. Neither Bergman nor Borgart ever set foot in Casablanca, but a smart American woman did a few decades later.

Kathy Kriger transformed that mythical saloon from the 1942 film into a brick-and-plaster cafe in Casablanca in 2004. For 20 years since then, the place has seen a steady stream of tourists queuing outside Rick's for a heady concoction of Hollywood and wine, both vintage. The white cafe is the quintessential tourist trap. But you know you won't leave Casablanca without a photo next to Bogart and Bergman's poster from 1942.

From Rick's, head to the Corniche. The sea face is lined with hip clubs where local singers sing Arabic songs from dusk to dawn. Advertisements and football scores share screen space in by-the-way bars as patrons break into a dance after a healthy drag of the ho**ah. Outside, the waves crash into the boulders at high tide.

A drive along the promenade takes you to the promontory that houses the Hassan II mosque, the second largest mosque in Africa (the largest is Egypt's Grand Mosque). The mosque is Casablanca's landmark. Its 60-storey minaret is topped with a laser directed towards Mecca. On big event days, over a lakh come together to pray in the Hassan II complex.

Cont... https://www.ndtv.com/lifestyle/in-morocco-travel-casablanca-chefchaouen-marrakesh-7654861

03/02/2025

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and Moroccan Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor signed an agreement to establish UN Tourism’s first African office in Rabat, Morocco’s capital.

Pololikashvili and Ammor met in Marrakech on Tuesday. The UN Tourism office will support innovation and investment, according to a Moroccan Tourism Ministry statement.

The office will pave the way for increased cooperation between African countries and UN Tourism, as well as stimulating Morocco’s own tourism industry.

UN Tourism’s office will organise capacity-building courses and workshops for stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

The office’s mission is to revitalise Africa’s tourism sector, the statement added.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250130-un-tourism-to-open-first-african-office-in-morocco/

27/01/2025

Travel Without Limits: How a group trip to Morocco reminded me what is possible as a wheelchair user
“I have visited all seven continents and 48 countries in my powered wheelchair – and this was my favourite trip.”

Welcome to Travel Without Limits, a limited series dedicated to all things accessible travel. For World Disability Pride Month, we’ve asked some of our favourite Disabled travellers to share their most impactful experiences and transformative travels.

I am still in awe of many of the experiences I’ve had as a Disabled traveller. Since launching my accessible travel blog 10 years ago, I have visited all seven continents and 48 countries in my powered wheelchair. I’m on a mission to inspire others to break out of their comfort zone and experience all the beauty our world has to offer, no matter what their abilities are. Because of that mission, I’ve gone adaptive paragliding over the Swiss Alps, flown in a hot air balloon over Catalonia and even went zip lining over a lake filled with alligators in Florida.

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/travel-without-limits-how-a-group-trip-to-morocco-reminded-me-what-is-possible-as-a-wheelchair-user

20/01/2025

THE MOST VISITED AFRICAN DESTINATIONS IN 2024

After a challenging COVID-19 pandemic, Africa's tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable recovery. In 2024, this development was especially evident in Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. These nations have not only attracted millions of visitors but have also strengthened the vital role of tourism in their economies.

Morocco topped the ranking of the most visited African destinations in 2024, welcoming 17.4 million tourists, a significant increase from the 14.5 million in 2023. This impressive figure brings the kingdom close to its target of 17.5 million visitors annually.

Morocco's efforts to enhance its appeal as a tourist destination are paying off. Intensive promotional campaigns, substantial investments in infrastructure, and a rich cultural and natural heritage have attracted travelers from around the globe. Tourism accounts for about 7% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and generates considerable revenue. By November 2024, tourism revenues had reached 104 billion dirhams, approximately $10.3 billion.

https://www.tourism-review.com/morocco-is-among-the-most-visited-african-destinations-news14759

16/01/2025

Sesamo Royal Mansour Marrakech was voted 'Africa's Best Hotel Restaurant 2024' at the 5th annual World Culinary Awards.



Entries for this year's awards programme open on 22 January. Visit our website for more information or to submit your entry.

16/01/2025

That view!

13/01/2025

Casablanca 🫶🏼♥️

11/01/2025

The chic Morocco hotel that’s fit for — and owned by — royalty
Away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh on the Mediterranean coast, you’ll find this beautiful beach resort. Few British tourists come here, but that won’t be the case for long

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-travel/morocco/the-chic-morocco-hotel-thats-fit-for-and-owned-by-royalty-9jl2v2238?region=global

11/01/2025

Morocco Becomes Africa’s Ultimate Travel Powerhouse Surpassing 17.4M Visitors and Outshining Egypt with Unmatched Revenue Milestones

Morocco emerges as Africa’s top travel powerhouse, surpassing 17.4M visitors in 2024 and outshining Egypt with record-breaking tourism revenue growth.

A little over a year after a powerful earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountains near Marrakech, Morocco has emerged as Africa’s most visited destination. In 2024, the country welcomed 17.4 million visitors, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism.

This achievement positions Morocco ahead of Egypt, the continent’s former tourism leader, which also set a personal record with 15.7 million arrivals last year. While no global body tracks visitor numbers for every African nation, both the UN Tourism Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council confirm that North African countries consistently outperform their sub-Saharan counterparts in terms of visitor numbers.

Morocco’s 2024 visitor count reflects a remarkable 20% increase from 2023 and a 33% surge compared to 2019, when it hosted 13 million tourists. These numbers put the nation two years ahead of its tourism targets, further solidifying its reputation as a premier travel destination.

The growth isn’t limited to visitor numbers. Morocco also saw record-breaking tourism revenue in 2024, generating $11 billion compared to $10.5 billion the previous year. While Egypt earned $14.1 billion in the same period, both nations dominate Africa’s tourism scene, far outpacing safari-focused destinations like South Africa and Botswana in both visitor volume and revenue.

Key Drivers of Morocco’s Tourism Boom
Several factors have fueled Morocco’s success. In 2024, the country launched 120 new airline routes, including United Airlines’ nonstop service from Newark to Marrakech. Additionally, high-profile luxury hotel openings, such as Four Seasons and Nobu properties across the country, have enhanced Morocco’s appeal to affluent travelers. The Royal Mansour’s expansion, with a second hotel opening in Casablanca, further encouraged extended stays and exploration beyond Marrakech.

Morocco Prepares for Major Sporting Events
Looking ahead, Morocco is gearing up for significant international events, starting with the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled from December 2025 to January 2026. This tournament is expected to draw soccer fans globally, further boosting tourism. Following the Moroccan national team’s historic run to the World Cup semifinals in 2022—the first African team to achieve this milestone—domestic tourism is also anticipated to surge.

By 2030, as Morocco co-hosts the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the country aims to attract 26 million annual visitors, a 50% increase over its current record. This ambitious goal highlights Morocco’s continued ascent as a global tourism powerhouse.

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/morocco-becomes-africas-ultimate-travel-powerhouse-surpassing-17-4m-visitors-and-outshining-egypt-with-unmatched-revenue-milestones/

10/01/2025

The combination of strategic investments and international promotion has led Morocco to close the year 2024 with record numbers of tourists: 17.4 million visitors, according to the Ministry of Tourism. These figures have been reached two years earlier than expected.

Moroccan tourism accounted for 7% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 and generated around two million direct and indirect jobs.

https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/economy-and-business/morocco-breaks-its-tourism-record-with-174-million-visitors-in-2024/20250110160000209742.html