COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2016
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Morocco (-1%) posted weaker results, affected by a decrease in arrivals from its major source
market France. It is expected that 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 continue to drive up the number of inbound arrivals in the next five
years. However, it is important for the government to provide adequate incentives for banks and
private developers to invest in the Moroccan tourism industry, otherwise the country could lag
behind in its plans to start developing tourism areas in order to take the pressure off more
saturated ones.
Data from some destinations, however, is still pending, including the United Arab Emirates
(Dubai) and Kazakhstan. United Arab Emirates did not report not only 2015 data but also 2014
data.
Iran reported 5.4% increase in tourist arrivals. 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 (-25.2%) and Algeria (-25.7%) declined
considerably in 2015 as a result of some security problems. Tunisia's crucial tourism sector
suffer from security issues, which result in weak tourist spending and delay the economic
recovery. (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.
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.
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