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Morocco and Tourism

Chapter · June 2016

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_325-1

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M
Morocco, tourism
Fernando Almeida-Garcı́a1 and Samia Chahine2
1
University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
2
Government of Morocco, Rabat, Morocco
Morocco is located in the northwest part of
▶ Africa, with an area of 172,413 mi2 or
446,550 km2 (710,000 mi2, including Western
Sahara). The country is bordered by ▶ Spain,
▶ Algeria, and ▶ Mauritania (Figure 1). In
2011, the population reached 32.3 million, with
a 58 % urbanization rate and US$ 5,300 GDP per
capita. Its economy depends on agriculture,
mining (phosphates), remittances sent by
migrants, and tourism.
The number of international tourists rose from
4.3 million in 2000 to ten million in 2013, an
average annual growth of 10.2 %. In the same
year, Morocco was the 25th most popular ▶ des-
tination worldwide and first in Africa (UNWTO
2014). In 2012, there were about two million
domestic tourists and 4.4 million overnight stays
(UNWTO 2012). Tourists are mostly Europeans
(▶ France, Spain, and ▶ Belgium). Tourism pro-
vides 450,000 jobs (Ministère du Tourisme
2012). Its contribution to GDP was 9.1 % in
2011 and 22.2 % of the national current account.
Tourism receipts were $6.7 billion in 2012.
In 2011, the number of beds was 184,125
(UNWTO 2011). The government has
implemented professional ▶ certification for
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
J. Jafari, H. Xiao (eds.), Encyclopedia of Tourism,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_325-1
tourism and most public universities have related
postgraduate programs.
During the period of the Protectorate
(1912–1956), cultural tourists often visited the
old imperial cities of Marrakesh, Fez, and
Meknes (Berriane 2009). After independence in
1956, tourism was not greatly developed as it was
not considered to be a productive industry (Hillali
2007). In the 1960s and 1970s, however, the state
intervened more actively and the major seaside
destination of Agadir was built. The government
also created a network of state ▶ tourist
▶ accommodation that remained in use until the
mid-1990s. Subsequently, economic adjustment
has brought about its closure or privatization.
Between 1994 and 1997, there was a sharp
decline in the number of arrivals as a result of
the 1994 terrorist attacks in Marrakesh and the
effects of the first Gulf War (Berriane 2009).
Since 2000 there has been a steady increase in
the number of international tourists.
In 2001, the “2010 Vision Plan” was
announced, emphasizing tourism as the main fac-
tor in development policy. Its objectives were to
achieve ten million tourists in 2010, to reach an
accommodation capacity of 230,000 beds, and to
build six large seaside resorts. By 2010, the num-
ber of arrivals had reached 9.3 million and there
were 178,000 beds. The “2020 Vision Plan” aims
to ensure that Morocco is among the top 20 desti-
nations worldwide. At present ▶ cultural tourism
products (old cities, crafts) and natural attractions
(Atlas Mountains, Sahara), in addition to seaside
2 Morocco, tourism

Spain

Atlantic
Ocean Rabat

Morocco
Canary Islands
Morocco

Algeria
ha n
Sa ster
ra
e
W

Mauritania
Km

0 400 Source: Fernando Almeida

Morocco, tourism, Figure 1 Map of Morocco

tourism, are promoted (Ministère du Tourisme References

2012). In prospect, an assessment of the achieve-
ments of tourism policy and its economic, social,
and environmental impacts is required.
See also ▶ Cultural tourism, ▶ development,
▶ planning, ▶ Policy and policymaking.
Berriane, M. 2009 Tourisme des Nationaux, Turisme des
Étrangers: Quelles Articulations en Méditerranée?
Rabat: Faculté des Lettres.
Hillali, M. 2007 La Politique du Tourisme au Maroc:
Diagnostic. Bilan et critique. Paris: Harmatton.
Ministère du Tourisme 2012 Observatoire du Tourisme.
Rabat: Gouvernement du Maroc.
UNWTO, 2011-2014, World Fact Book. Madrid: World
Tourism Organization.

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