Baitas defends economic record, cites strong growth and tourism gains

Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas on Thursday defended Morocco’s economic performance, arguing that national and international data leave little room for debate over the country’s growth trajectory.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing following a Cabinet meeting, Baitas said economic growth figures issued by independent institutions provide a clear picture of the country’s performance.

“Growth figures allow for only one interpretation,” Baitas said. “The data published by independent national and international institutions leave no gray areas or conflicting narratives, unless some choose to reject reality. That, however, does not change the facts.”

Baitas pointed to a steady acceleration in economic growth over recent years. Morocco’s economy grew by 1.8% in 2022 before accelerating to 3.7% in 2023, he said. Growth reached 4.4% in 2024, exceeding the government’s initial forecast of 3.8%.

The spokesman said the government had consistently adopted cautious assumptions in its economic projections and had never disputed figures published by official institutions.

According to Baitas, economic growth reached 4.9% in 2025 and is expected to approach 5.2% in 2026.

“These figures demonstrate that government choices aimed at stimulating the national economy are beginning to bear fruit,” he said, adding that such growth levels would not have been possible without improvements across several sectors.

Baitas highlighted tourism and agriculture among the strongest-performing sectors. He said agricultural value added increased by about 15%, while broader economic indicators point to sustained expansion.

Morocco’s economy, measured in U.S. dollars, has grown from roughly $140 billion to more than $170 billion, he said.

“The increase in gross domestic product can only be explained through the cumulative growth achieved year after year,” Baitas said, adding that cumulative growth between 2021 and 2026 averaged 4.7%.

He described the current administration as one of the strongest-performing governments in terms of economic growth, citing official reports and economic data.

Agriculture remained a key driver of economic activity, with agricultural growth reaching 8.2% in 2025. Agricultural GDP is expected to increase by approximately 15% in 2026, according to government projections.

Baitas also highlighted Morocco’s tourism performance, noting that the country welcomed approximately 19.8 million visitors in 2025, nearly reaching the 20-million mark and surpassing previous national targets.

Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, he said Morocco ranked 22nd globally in terms of international tourist arrivals in 2025.

The country gained 12 positions compared with the benchmark year of 2019, while tourism revenues reached approximately $15 billion, he added.

Baitas attributed the sector’s performance to the government’s tourism roadmap for 2023-2026, as well as efforts to expand air connectivity, increase accommodation capacity and improve service quality and visitor experiences.

According to figures from the Moroccan National Tourist Office, travel revenues increased by 21% during the first four months of 2026, reaching more than 44 billion dirhams ($4.8 billion), compared with 36 billion dirhams during the same period a year earlier.

“These results reflect strong momentum and promising prospects for the future,” Baitas said.