Morocco and Egypt break tourism records
Morocco welcomed 19.8 million visitors in 2025 and Egypt nearly 19 million, and 2026 started strongly.
Key points
- Morocco recorded 19.8 million tourist arrivals in 2025, up 14% and above its 18 million target, remaining Africa’s most visited country.
- Egypt welcomed nearly 19 million visitors in 2025, up 21%, according to its Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
- Morocco received 4.3 million tourists in the first quarter of 2026, up 7%, and targets 26 million by 2030.
Africa's two biggest tourism destinations both broke records. Morocco welcomed 19.8 million tourists in 2025, and Egypt nearly 19 million.
Morocco: Africa's most visited country
- Arrivals in 2025 rose 14% to 19.8 million, beating the government's 18 million target.
- Tourism receipts reached about MAD 124 billion (around $13.5 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025, up 19%.
- In the first quarter of 2026, 4.3 million tourists arrived, up 7%.
- Morocco is targeting 26 million visitors by 2030, the year it co-hosts the World Cup.
Egypt: up 21%
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said visitor numbers rose 21% in 2025, far ahead of the global average. Arrivals were led by Cairo and the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam. The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids in November 2025 added a major new attraction.
Why it matters
Tourism brings foreign currency and jobs. Across the continent, countries from Egypt to Kenya are working to attract more visitors, from new archaeological finds to digital tourism campaigns and easier visa rules.
Sources
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