Despite the difficult year brought on by the global economic crisis, Moroccan tourism was able to achieve strong growth in 2008. Tourist arrivals in Morocco have risen, in the year to October, by 6% compared to the year before to reach over 7 million tourists, according to the Moroccan Tourism Ministry.

The government’s travel and tourism policy for promoting the travel and tourism industry, was the force behind this growth. This new strategy embarked on the development of new tourist resorts and the opening of brand new hotels and tour operators, as well as the opening the first two next generation resorts of the Azur Plan Mediterrania Saidia in June 2009 and Mazagan Beach Resort late October 2009 located in El Jadida, about 55 miles southwest of Casablanca.

Travel and tourism also benefited from the partial privatisation of the national airline, which makes it feasible for low cost carriers to operate and an attractive destination for city breaks.

Other factor that has made Morocco an attractive destination for international tourists is the institutional campaign launched by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT).

This new strategy is making 2009-2010 Morocco a more attractive and accessible destination, rolling out promotions abroad and within the country, and also offered encouraging incentives to domestic as well as foreign investors to set up projects in Morocco .

The Moroccan government, earlier this year took measures to boost the economy by encouraging banks to grant more loans, spending more money on tourism marketing and offering its expatriates incentives to invest at home.