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 it co-hosts the 2030 World Cup.

Morocco gained 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 in 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 of more than 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 to be hosted by each country 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 forecasts 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 boosted the sector.

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

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The state also seeks to diversify tourist destinations instead of limiting them to traditional destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir.

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

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