Amour: The Tourism Offer in Morocco is Suitable and its Prices are Lower than Competing Destinations
Minister of Tourism, Solidarity Economy, and Handicrafts, Fatima Zahra Amour, opened the discussion on the budget allocation for her sector within the Committee on Production Sectors at the House of Councillors, emphasizing that Morocco today has a “rich and suitable” tourism offer that meets the expectations of Moroccan tourists. She stressed that the claims about rising prices compared to foreign destinations “do not rely on official data.”
The minister highlighted that studies carried out by the ministry show that destinations typically compared to Morocco in terms of accommodation and travel costs “have prices that are multiplied,” adding that these figures are “accurate numbers and not personal opinions.”
Amour responded to criticisms regarding the ability of Moroccan families to bear the cost of domestic tourism, noting that the 2024 figures reveal that 50% of Moroccans travel domestically, a percentage comparable to countries like Portugal (50%), close to France (60%), and higher than Greece (45%). She considered these indicators “very encouraging,” but emphasized that efforts must be intensified to expand and improve the quality of the tourism offer.
The minister asserted that developing a larger and more diverse offer will automatically help reduce accommodation and service prices, making domestic tourism more attractive and allowing more families to benefit from it. She confirmed that the goal is to achieve a domestic tourism experience that meets citizens’ expectations in terms of quality and accessibility.
Amour reminded that domestic tourism accounts for approximately 30% of overnight stays in classified hotels, and that the ministry is aware of the existing issues, particularly regarding a lack of suitable offers that meet tourists’ expectations. She noted that the ministry is working to implement a roadmap to diversify tourism chains and enhance the attractiveness of each region based on its unique characteristics and natural potential, whether it involves beach tourism, desert tourism, or oasis tourism, while ensuring proper accommodation facilities for each destination.
To achieve these goals, the ministry is developing a comprehensive tourism system that includes accommodation, tourist and air transport, and infrastructure, through the “GO Tourism” program, which supports 1,700 tourism businesses, with 1,100 having received assistance to date, while 500 businesses remain under development until the end of the year.
