Morocco and Egypt set new tourism records in 2025.
Morocco and Egypt concluded 2025 with historically the best tourism results. These have been confirmed as the two most visited destinations in Africa. Growth has been driven by strengthened air connectivity, major international events, infrastructure investments, and new cultural projects.
Morocco
- 19.8 million tourists in 2025. (+14 % compared to 2024)
- 124 billion dirhams incoming from tourism (around €11.5 billion, January-November)
- 36.3 million passengers through airports (+3.6 million annually)
The increase in arrivals is linked to Royal Air Maroc's network expansion towards Europe, the USA, and China, as well as Ryanair's further expansion in the Moroccan market. Significant traffic was also achieved during Africa Cup of Nations, held from December 2025 to January 2026.
Largest airports:
- Casablanca – 32 % total traffic
- Marrakech – 28 % (more than 10 million passengers in 2025)
- Agadir – 10 %
Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport will receive a new terminal of 600,000 m², with a long-term goal of capacity up to 30 million passengers annually. Morocco aims to reach by 2030 26 million tourists, when will it be one of the hosts FIFA World Cup.
Egypt
- 19 million international arrivals in 2025.
- Growth of 21 % compared to the previous year
The key impetus was the commencement of operations Great Egyptian Museum (GEM) You Giza, the largest archaeological museum in the world, a project worth about £1 billion. Egyptian authorities emphasise that cultural tourism, alongside traditional sun-and-sea destinations, is becoming a main driver of growth.
The Minister of Tourism has announced goals of:
- 20 million tourists in 2026.
- 30 million by 2031.
The main challenge remains accommodation infrastructure, given the high hotel occupancy rates and the need for additional capacity.
According to the available data UN Tourism i World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Morocco and Egypt significantly surpass other African destinations in terms of arrivals and tourism revenue, thereby confirming the continent's leading position in global tourism movements.
Source: Business Insider
