Morocco is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 and will look to use the tournament to increase tourism by 80% by the end of the decade.
In 2023, the number of visitors in Morocco was 14.5 million. Moroccan authorities are looking to increase that number to 26 million by 2030.
Morocco, long famous for its beach resorts and walled ancient cities, sees co-hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2030 as helping to bring about an 80% increase in tourists by the end of the decade https://t.co/5RxpDyNYSR
— Bloomberg Economics (@economics) February 27, 2024
Expanding tourism in Morocco
Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor told Bloomberg that co-hosting the World Cup with Spain and Portugal is a “formidable opportunity” to expand tourism in the country.
The planned increase in tourism is an attempt to help Morocco financially recover from the impact of last year’s earthquake.
Ammor added, “The new objectives are quite a big challenge,” stating that a “whole ecosystem is needed to ensure they are met.”
Finding ways to meet the objectives
Last year, Morocco doubled the amount of foreign flights coming into the country, as well as reaching an agreement with Ryanair Holdings Plc that is projected to increase the number of tourists flying to Morocco to 10 million by 2027.
Moroccan authorities are “now working with several other carriers” to achieve the objectives by 2020, however, Ammor refused to go into specific details.
Morocco will also host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Before this tournament, authorities are looking at increasing national accommodation for visitors. By 2030, Morocco requires 150,000 additional beds, which will be achieved through upgrading the existing facilities or greenfield projects.