Forbes: Morocco Bets on Gulf Tourists

The Kingdom of Morocco is moving to strengthen its presence in Gulf markets as part of a strategy to diversify tourist sources and raise the number of visitors to 26 million annually by 2030. This effort leverages the growing interest of Gulf travelers in Morocco as a summer destination that combines cultural, recreational, and beach tourism, emerging as an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional European destinations, according to Forbes. The Moroccan government is betting on attracting more tourists from Gulf and Middle Eastern countries, alongside China and the United States, by enhancing air connectivity and promoting diverse tourism experiences, while simultaneously maintaining the strength of European markets, which have been the main driver of sector growth in recent years.

Travel indicators reflect growing Gulf interest in Morocco. Data from the Wego platform for summer 2026 placed Morocco among the top five most-searched international destinations among Saudi travelers, signaling its rising prominence as a summer travel option in the region. This focus on the Gulf market comes after a record year for Moroccan tourism. The kingdom received 19.8 million tourists in 2025, a 14% year-on-year increase, adding approximately 2.4 million visitors compared to the previous year, with tourist numbers surpassing 2019 levels by 53%.

Accompanying the growth in visitor numbers was a strong rise in revenues. Foreign currency tourism revenues jumped by 21% in 2025, reaching 138 billion Moroccan dirhams ($14.7 billion), a 75% increase over 2019 levels, according to data from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. The sector’s momentum continued into 2026, with Morocco receiving 9.4 million visitors in the first half of the year, a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This supports the kingdom’s plans to continue expanding and diversifying its tourism markets, aiming for 26 million annual visitors by 2030.