Morocco expects threefold increase in Chinese arrivals by 2027

Morocco has launched a charm offensive to increase threefold the number of visitors from China,Morocco’s tourism promotion office ONMT said.

Morocco has recently won the “China Ready” label as it invests in services tailored to the needs and expectations of Chinese tourists,ONMT said in a statement.

Annually,some 150 million tourists travel abroad spending generously,with a high curiosity to discover new attractions,ONMT chief Achraf Fayda said.

Direct flights would also encourage Chinese tourists to visit the Kingdom. The number of Chinese tourists increased from about 15,000 annually to 132,000 in 2018,after Morocco canceled visa requirements for Chinese nationals in 2015.

Thanks to Morocco’s growing appeal among Chinese tourists,Moroccan flag carrier RAM launched a direct flight between Casablanca and Beijing. The flights were halted during Covid-19 and resumed in January this year.

In anticipation of resuming the direct Casablanca-Beijing route,RAM had signed in December 2024,sixteen agreements with leading Chinese travel agencies,specializing in Morocco as a destination.

Chinese arrivals picked up to 106,000 last year,a steady increase to break the 2018 record.

With 17.4 million tourists visiting Morocco in 2024,arrivals were two years ahead of schedule or 20% higher compared with 2023,showing the country has turned the Covid-19 page thanks to major investments in its hospitality sector.