- Reuters
- Wednesday January 30 2008
RABAT, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Morocco attracted a record 7.4 million foreign tourists last year as rising numbers of French, Spanish, British and Italians flocked to the country's seaside resorts and Casbah old cities, government figures showed on Wednesday.
The government, which sees tourism as a growth engine, expects the number of foreign visitors to reach 10 million in 2010 when an eight-year-development plan of the industry ends.
Tourism accounts for eight percent of the country's gross domestic product and largest foreign currency earner.
The number of foreign holidaymkers visiting the North African country rose 13 percent to 7.4 million last year from the previous year, according to the government data.
Government officials said the figure is the highest recorded since the country began developing the industry four decades ago.
Tourism revenue stood at 59 billion dirhams ($7.69 billion), 12 percent more than in 2006.
The number of French tourists climbed 9 percent to 2.8 million and that of Spanish visitors rose 14 percent to 1.6 million.
The Belgian market grew by 11 percent, with 431,000 tourists visiting Morocco, where also 419,000 British vacationed, up 29 percent from 2006. The number of Italian holidaymakers rose 12 percent to 370,000, according to the government data.