City Travel Briefing: Marrakech

A city of heritage

Marrakech is first and foremost a city of culture and heritage and the leading leisure tourism destination in Morocco thanks to this positioning and appeal.

Healthy growth

2013 and 2014 saw healthy growth in arrivals of international and domestic tourists, thanks to recovery in the global travel and tourism industry and improved safety and security in Marrakech.

Shifting balance in source markets

Marrakech has been experiencing a shift and increasing diversification in source markets, which is most welcome for the city. An increase in arrivals from Arab and other countries is making up for the loss of European tourists.

Chained hotels taking over

Chained hotels are flooding the market in Marrakech, including luxury, 3- and 4-star hotels catering to leisure and business travellers alike.

Rapid growth in supply

The market is appealing to a large number of investors, and a large number of new openings are expected in 2015, 2016 and 2017, bringing well-known names such as the Baglioni and W Hotels to the city.

Health and wellness opportunity

As the birthplace of the traditional Hammam, Marrakech also stands a strong chance of positioning itself among the leading health and wellness destinations, and hotels are taking advantage by offering good spa facilities.

Improving transport infrastructure

Morocco is investing heavily in road and land transportation infrastructure development, while the airport of Marrakech is expected to see a new terminal open in 2015, benefiting overall tourism growth.

Leisure versus business events

Festivals and events in Marrakech revolve around heritage, culture and the arts, with a rising yet limited number of trade events to appeal to business tourists.