COMCEC Tourism Outlook 2017
25
In 2015, Morocco (-1%) posted weak results, affected by a decrease in arrivals from its major
source market France. The strength of the euro against the Moroccan dirham, combined with
the increasing number of low-cost airlines and routes between European countries and
Morocco, will drive up the number of inbound arrivals in the next five years. A slight increase in
arrivals and a larger impact on receipts from 6bn to 10 bn USD is already recorded in 2016.
Iran reported 5.4% increase in tourist arrivals in 2015. The government has defined twelve
areas in the Sixth Development Plan (2016-21) with solely focusing on tourism. Since desert-
trekking appears to be a favorite hobby of western travelers, the authorities have resolved to
create 2,000 ecotourism resorts by the end of the sixth five-year development plan (2016-21),
nearly a third of which will be located in Lut Desert. The government also expressed that Iran
will unveil an investment package of 1,300 projects in the coming days to attract foreign
investment and boost the badly-hit tourism industry (Dailymail, 2015 October).
In North Africa, international arrivals in Tunisia and Algeria started to grow considerably in
2016 after security problems in 2015. (BMI Research, 2016).
In order to compare the performance of the countries, major surplus on the travel balance would
be a useful tool, since it shows that more foreign exchange stays in the country. Table 4.2 shows
member countries by major surplus on the travel balance between 2013 and 2015.
Table 4.2 Member Countries by Major Surplus/Deficits on the Travel Balance in 2013-2015
(US$ billion)
Source: UNWTO, 2016 Tourism Barometer Volume14, May 2016.
According to the Table 4.2, Turkey ranked as 5th, Malaysia as 15th, Morocco as 22th and Indonesia
as 25th country by major surplus on the travel balance in international tourismmarket. In 2015,
Turkey’s tourism receipts were US$ 22.2 billion, however Turkish citizens spent US$ 5 billion in
other countries. This means that US$ 17.2 billion stayed in the country as a surplus on the travel
balance. This surplus is very important for countries as a source of foreign exchange in their
economies. It can be realized from the Table 4.2 that some countries have a tendency to spend
more than their tourism receipts. It is obvious that the majority of these countries are the main
OIC international tourism destinations and earners. It is also observed that the balance of
international tourism of some member countries accounts for a high percentage of their
international tourism receipts. For example, countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar have
deficits on travel balance.
Tourism Receipts Tour. Expenditures Balance
2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015
Turkey 28.0 29.6 26.6 4.8 5.1 5.4 23.2 24.5 21.2
Malaysia 21.5 22.6 17.6 12.2 12.4 10.5 9.3 10.2 7.1
Morocco 6.9 7.1 6.0 1.3 1.4 1.4 5.5 5.6 4.6
Egypt 6.0 7.2 6.1 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.0 4.1 1.7
Indonesia 9.1 10.3 10.7 7.7 7.7 7.3 1.4 2.6 3.4
Kuwait 0.3 0.4 - 11.6 11.3 - -11.3 -10.9 -
S. Arabia 7.7 8.2 10.1 17.7 24.1 20.7 -10.0 -15.9 -10,6
UAE 12.4 14.0 16.0 13.8 14.4 15.1 -1.4 -0.4 0.9
Qatar 3.5 4.6 5.0 6.6 8.7 8.2 -3.1 -4.1 -3.2