Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor has emphasized that the championship should not be viewed as an end in itself, but rather as a catalyst for transforming the national tourism industry and improving Morocco’s long-term competitiveness. According to the minister, the expansion of hotel capacity will be accompanied by major improvements in connectivity, transportation and urban infrastructure, with the goal of providing a higher-quality experience for both visitors and local communities.
The initiative forms part of a public investment program worth more than 190 billion dirhams, equivalent to approximately 20 billion dollars. The funds will be allocated to the construction and modernization of roads, railway lines, airports, stadiums and other urban services required to welcome millions of football supporters during the competition. Although the final distribution of matches among Morocco, Spain and Portugal has not yet been determined, the North African country is continuing its preparations to meet FIFA’s organizational and infrastructure standards.
Over the past four years, Morocco has already significantly increased its accommodation capacity by adding 45,000 hotel beds, bringing the total number available nationwide to more than 300,000. This expansion reflects the sharp rise in tourism demand following the sector’s recovery, as well as the international attention generated by the Moroccan national team’s performance at the World Cup in Qatar, where it became the first African and Arab team to reach the semifinals.
The country’s growing international appeal is also reflected in the steady increase in visitor numbers. In 2025, Morocco welcomed nearly 20 million tourists, reinforcing its position as the most visited destination in Africa. Official forecasts indicate that the country could receive 26 million visitors annually by 2030, a figure that would further strengthen tourism’s contribution to the national economy and create additional investment opportunities in hotels, services and leisure-related activities.
The economic outlook for the sector is also favorable. Morocco’s central bank expects tourism revenues to reach a record 161 billion dirhams in 2027, compared with 138 billion dirhams in 2025. This growth is expected to be supported by a larger hotel supply, the expansion of international air routes and a strategy focused on diversifying the markets from which visitors originate.
To date, the increase in air connections with European cities has played a major role in supporting the sector’s growth. However, the next phase of the national strategy will focus on attracting more travelers from China, the United States and the Middle East through new international routes and improved air links with those markets, which are considered a priority for expanding visitor numbers over the next decade.
Another central objective of the plan is to decentralize tourism activity. Morocco intends to reduce the concentration of visitors in traditional destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir by promoting other cities with the potential to attract cultural, sports and business tourism. Rabat is expected to play a particularly important role, with its cultural heritage, museums and sports facilities set to be strengthened in order to position the capital as an international destination during and beyond the World Cup.
Through this combination of investment in accommodation, transportation, infrastructure and international promotion, Morocco wants the 2030 World Cup to leave a lasting legacy. The strategy is intended not only to meet the demands of the world’s largest sporting event, but also to establish a tourism development model capable of generating sustainable economic and social benefits for many years to come.
