Rabat – A new survey by Moroccan market research firm Sunergia has identified travel preferences of Moroccans, showing Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir as the Moroccan top destinations.

The data shows 38% respondents labeling Tangier as their favorite destination, followed by Marrakech (33%), Agadir (26%), and Tetouan (22%).

Casablanca ranks fifth on the list with 12%, followed by Rabat (10%), Al Hoceima (8%), Chefchaouen (8%), and Ifrane (7%).

As little as 6% of respondents identified Essaouira as their favorite destination, while 4% of respondents said Fez, El Jadida, and Nador are their favored spots to visit during vacations.

“Summer vacations are a special time for Moroccans, where tradition and modernity meet in their choice of destinations and travel habits,” Sunergia said.

Many Moroccans are now increasingly favoring European and other international destinations for their summer and seasonal vacations.

Sunergia data shows Spain, France and Italy are the most popular international destinations for Moroccans.

The three destinations attract 29%, 27%, and 17% of Moroccan visitors, respectively.

Turkiye  is also one of the top destinations for Moroccans, with 15% respondents identifying the country as their favorite summer spots.

The survey also detailed how Moroccans typically book their accommodations. The study shows that many stick to traditional methods and prefer to search for options on-site once they arrive at their destinations.

Meanwhile, there is also a noticeable trend towards using hotel websites and booking platforms.

According to Sunergia, 47% of Moroccans have never booked accommodations  in Morocco, while 53% of respondents said they had.

“Of those who have booked accommodations in Morocco, 72% do so by searching once on site,” the survey shows.

Meanwhile 9% of respondents said they use hotel websites while  7% others use booking platforms.

In terms of Moroccan travelers abroad, 85% of respondents said they have never booked accommodation abroad.

“Among those who have booked accommodations, 27% do so through hotel websites, while 21% use travel agencies or booking platforms,” the study concluded.

 The study comes as Morocco intensifies its efforts to attract more tourists.

About 2.6 million tourists visited the North African country in July, representing a remarkable increase of 20% compared to the same period last year.

The North African country aims to attract over 15 million tourists this year. Last year, Morocco recorded 14.5 million tourist arrivals.