Morocco’s tourism sector posted strong gains in the first quarter of 2026. Foreign currency receipts from travel reached 31 billion dirhams (roughly $3.1 billion) by the end of March, a 24 percent increase from the same period last year, according to figures released by the Office des Changes on April 30, 2026.
The Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy confirmed the same trajectory, reporting 4.3 million tourist arrivals during the first three months of the year. That figure represents a 7 percent increase over Q1 2025.
A gap between arrivals and revenue
The numbers reveal something worth noting. Arrivals went up by 7 percent, but revenue jumped by 24 percent. The gap means visitors are spending more per trip than they did a year ago.
Industry observers attribute the shift to a changing product mix: longer stays, higher-end accommodation pulling more weight in the average basket, and demand spreading beyond the classic Marrakech-Fes-Casablanca circuit into regions where price points and length of stay differ from the imperial cities.
March alone accounted for around 1.6 million arrivals, an 18 percent increase compared to March 2025, making it the strongest single month of the quarter.
What the ministry is saying
In its official statement, the ministry described the Q1 performance as part of a positive context, noting that the figures reflect not only volume but a tourism offering that is becoming more mature and capable of generating greater value.
Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said the revenue dynamic reflects a growing economic impact of tourism at the local level. She added that the ministry’s goal is to continue this trajectory by developing and diversifying the tourism offering, improving the visitor experience, and reinforcing the economic impact of the sector across the kingdom’s various regions.
The wording signals where the next phase of public investment is likely to go: secondary destinations, infrastructure outside the main hubs, and product development beyond the standard riad-and-medina formula.
The 2025 baseline
The Q1 2026 numbers build on a strong 2025. Last year, Morocco closed with 138 billion dirhams in tourism receipts, a 21 percent increase over 2024, after welcoming 19.8 million tourists.
That baseline is part of what makes the Q1 2026 figures notable. Growth on top of a high reference year is harder to deliver than recovery growth, and the sector is still posting double-digit revenue increases.
The 2030 question
The ministry’s official target is 26 million tourists by 2030. Some industry professionals consider that figure conservative and put the realistic ceiling closer to 30 million, factoring in the boost expected from the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, along with the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025-2026.
Whether the country lands at 26 or 30 million, the direction of travel is clear. The first quarter of 2026 suggests Morocco’s tourism sector is continuing to grow at a steady pace, with both volume and per-visitor spending moving in the same direction.
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