Kingdom
Tourism: More Than 1.3 Million Arrivals in January 2026
National airports welcomed more than 3.1 million passengers in January 2026, an increase of 14.7%, driven by both international passenger traffic (+14.9%) and domestic traffic (+13.1%).
The tourism sector continues its upward momentum at the start of 2026, with more than 1.3 million arrivals recorded in January, up 3%, according to the latest statistics from the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF).
This growth is driven by the consolidation of arrivals from several markets, particularly the French (+14%), Polish (+40%), Italian (+6%), American (+15%), Belgian (+5%), and Canadian (+10%) markets, the DEPF notes in its latest economic report.
The momentum has been even more notable for overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments, which recorded a performance of +12% at the end of January 2026, benefiting from the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, as well as from the attractiveness of the Kingdom’s various destinations.
Overnight stays increased notably in the destinations of Casablanca (+36%), Rabat (+42%), Tangier (+31%), Ouarzazate (+35%), Errachidia (+29%), Agadir (+11%), Marrakech (+7%), Fez (+10%), and Essaouira (+7%).
As for travel receipts, they rose by 19.3% in January 2026 to reach 11.7 billion dirhams, compared to 9.8 billion a year earlier, according to the same source.
Regarding air transport, national airports welcomed more than 3.1 million passengers in January 2026, up 14.7%, driven by both international (+14.9%) and domestic (+13.1%) passenger traffic.
By geographic region, this growth was supported by increased traffic with Africa (+28.9%), North and South America combined (+30.7%), the Middle and Far East (+15.9%), Maghreb countries (+13.7%), and Europe (+13.2%). Air freight traffic, for its part, rose by 7.4% in the first month of 2026.
As for maritime transport, the volume of commercial traffic handled in national ports closed 2025 with an increase of 8.9%, following a consolidation of 15.2% a year earlier, reaching a total volume of 262.6 million tons.
This growth is attributed to the strengthening of transshipment traffic by 14.7%, imports by 2.8%, exports by 1.4%, and coastal shipping by 24.3%. Passenger traffic in ports reached approximately 5.6 million travelers in 2025, up 5.4%.
Cruise activity, meanwhile, increased by 41.7% by the end of 2025, with 383,231 cruise passengers.
