The burgeoning tourism sector in Morocco, poised to become Africa’s most visited destination, is spurring a parallel rise in its tech infrastructure. As tourist numbers soar, the monarchy is investing in a network of “Technoparks” designed to stimulate innovation and support the growth of digital businesses.
Nearly 16 million tourists had visited Morocco by November 2024, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. According to authorities, 17.5 million visitors are expected by 2025.
Due to this flood, which was fuelled by factors including targeted marketing and regional unrest that deterred tourists from visiting other places, tourism now accounts for 7 percent of Morocco’s GDP, bringing in €9.2 billion in 2024 alone.
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The majority of tourists still travel to well-known locations like Marrakech, which has excellent flight connections to France and is seeing an increase in British visitors, but the financial advantages are encouraging more investment.
Aims to cultivate regional tech talent and diversify the economy
The creation of Technoparks, which aim to cultivate regional tech talent and diversify the economy, is a crucial component of this approach.
The Technopark in Tiznit, southern Morocco, is one such initiative. The Tiznit municipality is supporting the program, which has a budget of 5 million dirhams ($500,000) and wants to assist new technology firms, especially those in fields like smart systems and contemporary technologies.
In addition to co-working spaces, training rooms, meeting rooms, and administrative offices, the facility will offer workspaces for start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses.
The goal of the Technopark, according to Ibrahim Lkaddi, vice-president of the Tiznit municipality, is to leverage the area’s potential by generating employment and supporting regional talent, he told local media.
In Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, and the Souss-Massa Innovation City, the Tiznit project is part of an expanding network of comparable facilities.
The goal of this national policy is to establish a favourable environment for digital enterprises nationwide.
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These innovation clusters’ growth is occurring at the same time that Morocco is becoming more and more well-known worldwide.
As part of a joint effort to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030, the nation will host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, which is anticipated to draw over 500,000 tourists.
These gatherings are expected to increase tourism even further and provide Morocco a chance to demonstrate its developing technological prowess.
The Moroccan government is obviously trying to create a more sustainable and diversified economy, even though the tourism industry’s current success is evident due to reasons like geopolitical instability in other regions.
A long-term plan to take advantage of the current tourism boom in order to promote innovation and build a more robust economic future is suggested by the investment in Technoparks.