Reuters) – Morocco plans to increase its hotel capacity by 60,000 beds, which constitutes about a fifth of the current total, ahead of the country’s role as a co-host for the 2030 World Cup, according to the Tourism Minister.
The North African nation is capitalizing on the publicity generated by its quarter-final appearance in the last World Cup, having become the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals in Qatar four years ago.
Authorities aim to leverage this renewed attention to generate lasting advantages for the country’s tourism sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of Moroccans and contributes around 7% of the GDP.
“We see the FIFA World Cup 2030 as an accelerator, not an end in itself,” said Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor to Reuters.
The government is investing over 190 billion dirhams (approximately $20 billion) in constructing and expanding railways, highways, airports, stadiums, and other urban infrastructure ahead of the 2030 tournament, where Morocco will be one of three main co-hosts alongside Portugal and Spain.
The number of matches each host country will hold has yet to be decided.
PLANS FOR RABAT
Morocco has already added 45,000 hotel beds in the last four years, raising the current total to just over 300,000, according to official data.
The North African country welcomed nearly 20 million tourists last year, making it the most visited destination in Africa. The goal is to attract 26 million visitors by 2030.
The central bank of Morocco expects tourism revenue to hit a record 161 billion dirhams by 2027, up from 138 billion dirhams in 2025.
Increased air routes from Europe have also boosted the sector.
The “next phase of growth” will focus on increasing visitor numbers from China, the United States, and the Middle East through improved air connectivity, Ammor stated.
The country is also looking to diversify tourism beyond traditional destinations like Marrakech and Agadir. This includes transforming the capital, Rabat—with its century-old monuments, museums, and sports facilities—into a hub for cultural, sporting, and business travel events, according to Ammor.
“We need to make investments that create lasting value for Moroccan tourism,” she said.
