Let’s talk Essaouira — the coastal Moroccan city where you can live your best life.
Marrakech – Over a million tourists visited the City of Trade Winds — Essaouira — last year, breaking records and setting a new benchmark for what a booming travel destination looks like.
And trust me, it’s not just the postcard-perfect views or the salty ocean breeze that’s drawing the crowds.
Redwane Khanne, president of the Provincial Tourism Council (CPT) of Essaouira, put it succinctly: “With more than one million tourists, Essaouira-Mogador has crossed a historic threshold in 2024.”
But wait, there’s more. According to Khanne, the city also clocked over three million overnight stays in classified establishments alone.
That’s not counting informal stays and Airbnb bookings, which have traditionally made up a big slice of Essaouira’s tourist pie.
If you think this city sleeps in the off-season, think again.
“2024 was also marked by a phenomenon characteristic of the exceptional momentum of Essaouira’s tourism, which, for the past decade, has seen the fading of traditional seasonality that used to define the rhythm of tourist flows,” stated Khanne in a recent press release.
“Now, Essaouira is practically full year-round — winter as much as summer, autumn as much as spring.”
That’s right: Essaouira is no longer just a summer fling.
So, what’s fueling this unseasonal magic? A thriving cultural scene, led by the Essaouira-Mogador Association, which organizes or collaborates on 15 music festivals a year alongside countless forums and conferences.
This is a city where culture, art, and heritage aren’t just buzzwords — they’re a strategy.
As Khanne points out, the association has been a pioneer in sustainable development for over 30 years, and it shows.
2025 looks bright
If you thought 2024 was impressive, buckle up. The year ahead promises even bigger things:
The Cité des Arts, de la Culture et du Patrimoine project — designed by none other than the late, great Oscar Niemeyer — is making impressive progress.
Mogador Resort is getting a makeover with a whopping MAD 5 billion investment.
But here’s the catch — Essaouira’s infrastructure needs a glow-up to match its newfound stardom.
“The most appropriate answers must now be given to challenges related to national and international connectivity — by road, air, and rail — to consolidate and optimize the city’s exceptional momentum,” the CPT concluded.
From a sleepy coastal town to a cultural powerhouse, Essaouira has earned its place on the global tourism map.
The question is: Have you booked your ticket yet?
