Morocco is accelerating investments in tourism and infrastructure as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with plans to add 60,000 hotel beds before the tournament. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said the expansion is part of a broader strategy to ensure the country has the capacity to accommodate the expected influx of football fans and international visitors during the global sporting event. The 2030 tournament will mark the first time Morocco hosts the FIFA World Cup and the first edition to be jointly staged across Europe and Africa, making it a landmark event for the Kingdom.
Morocco is also seeking to capitalize on the international attention generated by its national football team’s historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals in Qatar, the best-ever performance by an African nation at the tournament which significantly boosted the country’s global profile. Tourism remains a key pillar of Morocco’s economy, accounting for approximately 7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. The country welcomed nearly 20 million international visitors last year, making it Africa’s most visited destination, and is targeting 26 million tourists annually by 2030.
To support that ambition, Morocco has already added 45,000 hotel beds over the past four years, increasing its total accommodation capacity to more than 300,000 beds.Beyond tourism infrastructure, the government has committed over 190 billion Moroccan dirhams (approximately €17.8 billion) to modernize transport and public facilities. Investments include the expansion of airports, railway networks, highways, stadiums and urban development projects aimed at meeting FIFA standards and improving the long-term visitor experience.
Officials also plan to expand air connectivity with strategic tourism markets, including China, the United States and the Middle East, while promoting destinations beyond traditional tourist hotspots such as Marrakech and Agadir. The government is positioning Rabat as a leading destination for cultural, sporting and business tourism to diversify visitor experiences and spread economic benefits across the country. Authorities believe the World Cup will not only showcase Morocco on the global stage but also leave a lasting legacy through improved infrastructure, increased foreign investment and sustained growth in the tourism sector.
