GOOD TO KNOW

The strength of the euro against the Moroccan dirham, combined with the increasing number of low-cost airlines and routes between European countries and the kingdom, will continue to drive up the number of inbound arrivals in the next five years. However, since, historically, the government has neglected to provide adequate incentives for banks and private developers to invest in the Moroccan tourism industry, the country is lagging behind in its plans to start developing untapped tourist areas as a means of easing pressure on the more saturated ones. This includes the development of luxury resorts, which the government is trying to diversify its offering to European tourists and, in the longer term, Asians.

• The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was USD 2.2 billion (3 percent of total GDP) in 2015, and is forecast to rise by 4.2 percent per annum, from 2016-2026, to USD 3.5 billion in 2026.

• In 2015, travel and tourism directly supported 107.8 million jobs, with forecasts suggesting the number will rise by two percent per annum to reach 135.8 million by 2026.

• Travel and tourism investment in 2015 was USD 774.6 billion, or four percent of total investment.

WTTC - Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2016