Morocco is already a holiday destination on the rise – with a record-breaking 18.1 million visitors in 2024 so far and ambitions to attract 26 million by 2030.
The steep rise in tourist numbers would naturally put a strain on the country’s infrastructure – which is why plans to seriously expand services including hotels and public transport are underway as part of the concentrated boost in footfall.
Among measures already in the works are the construction of the Grand Stade Hassan II – a £375 million project that could be one of the largest stadiums in the world – and the extension of three major airports, Marrakech, Casablanca and Agadir.
And the country, known for its colourful markets and elaborate architecture, has just received another boost to its rapid growth plans – a loan of £539 million (€650 million) from the African Development Bank to further bolster its infrastructure for the forecast demand.
The loan is specifically designed to prepare Morocco for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, according to Reuters, making it the second African country to host the international competition, in conjunction with Spain and Portugal.
Bank president Akinwumi Adesina said the money would go towards developing Morocco’s rail and airport infrastructure – potentially helping to fund schemes, including the new stadium, that are already underway.
Plans to expand a high speed rail network also secured a multi-billion-pound investment from the African Development Bank this month. It is part of a scheme from national railway operator the ONCF aimed at modernising the country’s rail network by 2040.
The government-owned company is also planning a new 60-kilometre train route between Oued Zem and Beni Mellal and has a stated aim of providing rail travel to 87% of Morocco’s population, up from the current 51%.
Ensuring that locals, as well as tourists, benefit from the new schemes is a priority for Moroccan officials.
Speaking at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai, Moroccan tourist minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said she wanted “the whole country” to benefit from new infrastructure projects.
“Morocco has really diverse experiences [and] we need to make sure all our regions benefit,” the minister said. “We tend to focus on where it’s easy [to expand] like Marrakech, but all our regions need to benefit.”
While the new projects are anticipating a rise of demand in 2030, more and more Brits are already flocking to the region – with a record one million tourists expected to travel to the North African country this year.
And the global picture is no different, with worldwide tourism growing by nearly 18% year-on-year, according to the Moroccan National Tourist Office.