Fez — New data on tourist arrivals to the end of October 2025 show Morocco widening its lead over Egypt and Tunisia and confirming its position as Africa’s most visited destination in terms of volume.
Preliminary figures cited for November already point in that direction, with total arrivals crossing 18 million. In 2024, Morocco had set a record with 17.4 million visitors for the full year. The new numbers confirm a clear break with pre-pandemic levels and with previous records.
Tourism revenues also follow this upward curve. Receipts reached MAD 113.26 billion ($12.23 billion) by the end of October 2025, up from MAD 97.04 billion ($10.48 billion) a year earlier, a rise of 16.7%. The sector remains one of the country’s main sources of foreign currency and supports the balance of payments and the strength of the dirham.
Morocco on track for a 20 million visitor milestone
Between January and October 2025, Morocco welcomed 16.6 million tourists, an increase of 14% compared to the same period in 2024. That is an average of about 1.66 million visitors per month. If this pace holds through November and December, the country could pass 19 million arrivals and come close to the symbolic mark of 20 million visitors for the year.
Moroccans residing abroad continue to act as a key pillar of arrivals, representing around half of total visitors depending on the month. Alongside them, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and other European markets remain the main sources of foreign tourists.
The outlook for the winter season is strong. December usually benefits from school holidays and end-of-year celebrations, and this year will also see Morocco host the Africa Cup of Nations from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. The tournament is expected to draw supporters from across the continent and the diaspora in Europe, adding extra demand on top of leisure travel.
Egypt grows fast but feels regional shocks
Egypt also posts strong growth, with a little more than 15.6 million tourists between January and October 2025, an increase of 21% compared to the same period in 2024. The country remains one of the most attractive destinations in the region thanks to its historic sites, Red Sea resorts and cultural offerings.
However, several shocks have affected its tourism image. The war in Gaza has worried some visitors concerned about regional security. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also had an impact, since Russian tourists used to be among the main clients of Egypt’s seaside resorts.
To sustain growth, Egypt is counting on new tools and major openings. The country is rolling out broad use of electronic visas and emergency visas at airports to simplify entry. It is also betting heavily on the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Giza Plateau, inaugurated in November 2025. With more than 100,000 artefacts, including the full collection of Tutankhamun, the museum is expected to strengthen Egypt’s position as a cultural destination and support hotel occupancy and visitor spending.
Tourism revenues to the end of September are estimated at around $13.6 billion, up 20% year-on-year. For the full year, Egyptian authorities are targeting about 18 million visitors and 17 billion dollars in receipts, figures that would support external reserves and public finances.
Tunisia leans on its neighbors
Tunisia closes the North African trio with about 9.5 million tourists between January and October 2025, a rise of 9.6% compared to the same period in 2024. The country benefited from a strong late season that helped offset a slower July marked by rising hotel prices and weaker last-minute demand.
Arrivals are driven mainly by regional markets. Algerian and Libyan tourists account for about 53% of total visitors, with three million Algerians and two million Libyans recorded, both up compared to 2024. This dependence brings volume but also exposes Tunisia to possible fluctuations linked to political decisions or bilateral relations.
European markets are recovering more gradually. European arrivals climbed 7.8% to 2.9 million visitors by the end of October, now representing just over 31% of total arrivals. The French market passed the one million visitor mark, helped by increased air capacity from carriers such as Nouvelair and Transavia. The British market also showed a strong rebound of more than 40%, signaling a gradual return after the 2015 attacks.
Tourism receipts passed seven billion Tunisian dinars by the end of October 2025, about 2.4 billion dollars, an increase of around 8%. These revenues provide vital foreign currency, help stabilize the dinar and ease pressure on public finances. With an average of about 950,000 visitors per month, Tunisia hopes to reach 11 million tourists for the year, aided by end-of-year holidays and growing cruise activity.
A North African boom with Morocco in front
Taken together, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia received about 42.2 million tourists in the first 10 months of 2025. The combined total could cross 50 million by year-end, even with a slower summer caused by lower purchasing power in Europe, higher hotel prices and expensive air travel.
On arrivals, Morocco now holds a clear lead over Egypt and Tunisia and confirms its rank as the continent’s most visited destination. Egypt, for its part, remains ahead in tourism revenues in dollar terms but is dealing with the effects of regional crises. Tunisia continues to rebuild with a strong push from neighboring markets and a cautious return of Europeans.
For North Africa as a whole, the trend is clear. After the pandemic years, tourism is not just recovering. It is reshaping the map of African destinations, with Morocco pushing toward 20 million visitors, Egypt betting on major cultural investments, and Tunisia working to diversify beyond its immediate neighborhood.
