Nearly half of Moroccans (49%) opt for domestic tourism trips at least once a year, according to a new survey from the research firm Sunergia.
The survey provides an overview of travel trends in Morocco and shows that domestic tourism is an integral part of the lives of many Moroccans.
Among the key findings, an overwhelming 99% of respondents said that they prefer to travel with either their families or friends, noting most Moroccans travel with a group of 1 to 8 individuals in addition to the primary traveler.
The survey further indicates that close to a third of the Moroccan population opt for 7-day travel trips, while 19% prefer trips less than a week. 17% of respondents declared they prefer 10-day vacations.
When asked about future travel plans, one-third of Moroccans revealed their intentions to explore their own country during the upcoming season, with a budget averaging MAD 7600 ($760).
Regarding the preferred kind of accommodations for Moroccans, the data indicates that 66% of respondents favor staying in rental houses, followed by only 29% who said they chose hotels.
The preference for rental houses was particularly strong among individuals aged 35 to 44, accounting for 37% of this demographic.
The survey further unveils that the staggering majority of Moroccans — 88%, more specifically — have not ventured beyond their nation’s borders for tourism purposes.
Over the past three years, Morocco has launched several initiatives to stimulate domestic tourism to offset the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national tourism sector.
However, despite its potential to bring value to the tourism industry, the domestic market remains largely a “marginalized niche,” research shows.
