Morocco’s Prime Minister announced that as a part of a larger strategy to prepare for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while also enhancing the tourism sector, the North African country has set a goal to boost its nationwide airport capacity to 80 million air travelers by 2030.
Morocco is preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Morocco is also slated to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Prime Minister stated that the capacity of Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport is expected to increase to 23.3 million passengers, while Marrakech and Agadir, which are also major tourism hubs, are projected to achieve capacities of 14 million and 6.3 million passengers, respectively, by 2030.
Since 1999, the country’s airport network has expanded from 15 to 25 airports, which now includes 19 international airports.
Earlier, during the 28th session of the General Assembly of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) held in Rabat, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics also stated that Royal Air Maroc (RAM) plans to increase its aircraft fleet fourfold by the year 2037.
The Prime Minister also announced plans to enhance the sports facilities, including the renovation of 45 training venues across the six cities designated to host World Cup matches.
A new stadium with a capacity of 115,000 will also be built near Casablanca. The government anticipates that the investment required for stadium construction and upgrades could reach as much as 5 billion dirhams (approximately $500 million).
According to Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, the country has recorded a 20% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the previous year, with data from the Ministry of Tourism revealing that Morocco welcomed 15.9 million tourists during the first eleven months of the year.
In addition to enhancing airport capacity, Morocco plans to extend its high-speed rail line to Marrakech prior to the World Cup, with future plans to extend it further south to Agadir. The National Railway Office aims to connect 43 cities and serve 87% of the nation’s population by the year 2040.
