Morocco recorded more international tourist arrivals than Egypt for a second consecutive year in 2025, consolidating its lead as Africa’s most visited destination as both countries posted record figures, official data showed.
According to figures released by tourism authorities, Morocco welcomed about 19.8 million visitors in 2025, up 14 percent from the previous year.
Egypt, meanwhile, received roughly 19 million tourists, a sharp 21 percent increase year on year, reflecting a strong rebound but leaving it narrowly behind its North African neighbor in absolute arrivals.
The data underline a sustained post-pandemic recovery for both countries, long seen as pillars of Africa’s tourism industry, while confirming that Morocco has remained ahead in total arrivals since at least 2024.
Morocco’s performance has been supported by expanded air connectivity, including new routes linking secondary cities to European and Gulf hubs, as well as increased capacity from low-cost and legacy carriers.
The country has also benefited from event-driven travel, notably the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, alongside continued investment in urban tourism, coastal resorts and desert destinations, as part of a broader push to position tourism as a central pillar of economic expansion ahead of major international events later this decade.
Egypt’s rebound has been steeper in percentage terms, reflecting a recovery from a weaker base.
Tourism flows to the country were affected in previous years by currency instability, regional security concerns and the spillover effects of the war in Gaza on travel sentiment.
In 2025, however, visitor numbers were boosted by new flight links, the opening of major cultural attractions and strong demand for Red Sea resorts, reinforcing Egypt’s status as one of the world’s leading sun-and-culture destinations.
Comparisons were less clear in 2024, when Egypt released tourism figures progressively as part of a post-pandemic recovery, while international bodies such as the UN World Tourism Organization note that differing methodologies, including the treatment of cruise and short-stay visitors, can complicate rankings.
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