Morocco's Tourism Minister Fatima Zahra Ammor said the country plans to increase hotel capacity by 60,000 beds, equivalent to about 20 percent of the current total, by the time the country co-hosts the 2030 World Cup.

Morocco received positive publicity after reaching the quarter-finals of this year's World Cup, and after becoming the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup held in Qatar four years ago.

Officials want to capitalize on the renewed interest to achieve lasting gains for the country's tourism sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of Moroccans and contributes about seven percent of GDP.

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The minister told Reuters, 'We see the 2030 FIFA World Cup as a catalyst, not an end in itself.'

The government is pumping investments exceeding 190 billion dirhams (about $20 billion) to build and expand railways, roads, airports, stadiums and other urban infrastructure in preparation for the 2030 tournament, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.

The number of matches each country will host has not yet been determined.

Plans for Rabat

Official data showed that Morocco has already added 45,000 hotel beds over the past four years, bringing the current total to just over 300,000 beds.

Morocco received nearly 20 million tourists last year, making it the most visited tourist destination in Africa. Morocco aims to attract 26 million visitors by 2030.

Morocco's central bank expects tourism revenues to reach an unprecedented 161 billion dirhams in 2027, compared to 138 billion dirhams in 2025.

Increased air routes from Europe have also contributed to boosting the sector.

The minister said the 'next phase of growth' will focus on increasing visitors and tourists from China, the United States, and the Middle East by improving air connectivity.

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The state is also seeking to diversify tourist destinations instead of limiting them to traditional ones like Marrakech and Agadir.

The minister indicated that this includes transforming the capital Rabat, with its centuries-old monuments, museums, and sports facilities, into a hub for cultural and sporting events and business travel.

She said, 'We need investments that create lasting value for Moroccan tourism.'