Casablanca aims to attract one million cruise passengers by 2030
Casablanca : A New Terminal for Stimulating Maritime Tourism
The actors in the maritime sector agree on a crucial point: the recent inauguration of the cruise quay at Casablanca port is a major lever for developing tourism in Morocco. According to preliminary estimates, it is possible to reach up to one million cruise passengers by 2030, taking into account the arrivals of ports in Casablanca, Tanger and Agadir.
A Ambitious Objectives for Maritime Transport
Othmane Cherif Alami, president of the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) of Casablanca, is delighted with the opening of the new port terminal. He estimates that this infrastructure will allow the number of maritime tourists arriving via cruises to multiply.
He predicts that the 300,000 passengers in transit at Morocco will be reached by 2026, with the prospect of surpassing one million cruise passengers by 2030.
A Operational Success Already
Jalil Madih, CEO of Atlas Voyages group, announces that the Casablanca quay is already welcoming a ship every two days since its inauguration. These ships come from Mediterranean ports such as Lisbon and Barcelona, as well as Atlantic destinations like Brazil and the United States, benefiting from the high season which extends from October to December.
His agency, Alizés Travel, which holds nearly 60% of the Moroccan cruise market share, confirms this trend, with an increasingly strong demand from shipowners wanting to include Morocco in their itineraries.
Aiming for 500,000 Cruise Passengers Annually by 2027
At the last cruise industry conference in Hamburg, the new Casablanca terminal has generated great interest among international travel agents. The director general of Alizés Travel predicts that the port could welcome up to 250 ship calls annually by 2027.
Assuming 2,000 passengers per call, this would represent a total of 500,000 cruise passengers for the capital economy. The Tanger port is expected to achieve similar performances, while the Agadir port may experience less traffic due to the absence of a dedicated terminal.
A Annual Financial Attractiveness Exceeding One Billion Dirhams
The attractiveness of Moroccan ports is largely due to their strategic geographical location. Cruise passengers also appreciate unique visit circuits and affordable prices, spending between 120 and 150 euros during their stops.
Passengers who choose to prolong their stay in Casablanca to visit Marrakech or Fès contribute to this financial attractiveness. Additionally, the luxury tourism sector, fueled by certain cruises catering to a wealthy clientele, generates substantial revenues.
This segment of the market, the only one experiencing two-digit growth, could generate annual revenues exceeding one billion dirhams.
Objectif 2028 : Making Casablanca a "Port Headline"
Wanting to capitalize on this enthusiasm, Jalil Madih aims to make the Casablanca terminal a port of call by 2027 or 2028. This would mean that the port would become a departure and arrival point for future cruises.
He is optimistic about the possibility of attracting 500,000 tourists in transit by 2028, while aiming to reach one million cruise passengers during the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Morocco.
The Kingdom could draw inspiration from the Qatari model, which used cruise ships to meet the demand for accommodation during the 2022 World Cup. Jalil Madih suggests using floating hotels to satisfy this surge in tourist demand.
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