Morocco Lifts Western Sahara Tourism 52% to 743,133, Reinforcing Its Territorial Claim
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 24
Morocco Lifts Western Sahara Tourism 52% to 743,133, Reinforcing Its Territorial Claim
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 24
743,133 visitors went to Morocco-controlled Western Sahara in 2025, up from 490,297 in 2019, as Rabat pushes tourism in Dakhla and Laayoune.
Direct flights from Madrid, Paris and the Canary Islands have expanded the boom, with Ryanair and Transavia listing Dakhla as part of Morocco while resorts and hotel platforms market the territory similarly.
Rights groups and legal experts say that branding Western Sahara as Moroccan helps legitimize an occupation the UN still classifies as a non-self-governing territory, and could expose companies to legal challenges.
The dispute dates to Spain's 1976 withdrawal and a stalled 1991 UN referendum plan; Morocco controls about 80% of the territory, while Polisario says tourism is being used to impose a fait accompli.
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Morocco’s Tourism Breaks Records: Economic Gains, Western Sahara Push, and Rising International Scrutiny
Overview
Morocco's tourism sector has experienced an unprecedented boom in recent years, especially through 2024 and 2025, breaking previous records in visitor numbers and revenue. This growth has solidified tourism as a vital economic powerhouse and a testament to the country's effective long-term development strategies. By the end of November, tourism revenue climbed to 124 billion dirhams ($13.6 billion), marking a 19% year-on-year increase. The Ministry of Tourism celebrated this achievement as a strategic milestone, highlighting how Morocco’s focused efforts have transformed tourism into a key pillar of national economic success.