A 5% tourists' rise at the end of April

The overnight stays recorded at classified tourist accommodation establishments in April 2009 showed for the first time -since the beginning of this year- a +5% rise, compared to the same month of the previous year.

This evolution in terms of overnight stays is, to a large extent, due to the positive results realized by the residents (+11%) as well as the non residents( +4%).

In addition, the tourists' arrivals at the frontier posts pursue their sustained growth (+24% in April 2009). This significant increase has been made possible thanks to the excellent recorded performances of foreign tourists (+18%) and Moroccan nationals resident abroad (+38%).

The overnight stays increase recorded in April concerns most tourist destinations of the Kingdom (except for Rabat and Meknes ), notably Marrakech (+6%), Agadir (+4%) and Fez ( +30%) which hold nearly 94% of additional overnight stays.

The analysis per inbound destination shows that the major tourist markets contributing to this evolution at the level of overnight stays in April are: the Spanish market +89%, the German +15%, the Belgian+18%, and the Italian market +6%. However, the French and the English have witnessed a drop at the level of their overnight stays (-2% and -11% respectively).

Finally, the average room occupancy has indicated a slight decrease of 1 point to be set at 49% in April 2009 against 50% the preceding year.

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For further information....

National Statistics- March 2009 - (in french)

Annual evolution of nights spent in classified accommodation establishments

Monthly evolution of nights spent in classified accommodation establishments