Between 500,000 and one million tourists are expected to visit Morocco during the 28-day period of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with businesses in the country tapping into the influx of foreigners to generate revenue.
According to Moroccan newspaper Hespress, foreigners visiting Morocco around the time of AFCON are projected to generate between $450 million and $1 billion for the country’s economy, with individuals involved in accommodation, food, and transport services set to benefit the most.
One of the individuals currently benefiting from the positive economic impact on his business is a middle-aged man, El Amymy Mohammed, who told Peoples Gazette that the tournament is a great moment for Morocco, with the hotel that he manages in the middle of Fes fully booked ahead of AFCON.
“It is a great moment for the country and I’m sure it will be an amazing tournament,” Mr Mohammed told The Gazette. “For me personally, yes, it’s been very good for my business.”
Mr Mohammed also has a hostel in a building just beside the hotel, which he opened up to house guests for the period of AFCON. Others across Morocco have also set up hostels because of the tournament, as many are opting for this choice to minimise their travel expenses in Morocco.
Alongside serving as a hotel manager, Mr Mohammed ventured into being a chauffeur, offering to pick up travellers at the airport, especially those arriving in Fes at night, to his facilities and other places.
According to Hespress, travellers from some of the most populous countries playing in AFCON, including Nigeria, Egypt, DR Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, and Algeria, are likely to contribute the largest portion of people and cash inflow into Morocco.
An aged man who also spoke with The Gazette admitted that he has been using ride-hailing apps to attract customers, mostly foreigners who are unfamiliar with routes in Fes. The man, estimated by our correspondent to be aged between 55 and 65, pleaded anonymity, revealing that the use of such apps is illegal in some areas as it is detrimental to the business of local taxis.
The man, who only managed to communicate in broken English because of his limited understanding of the language, admitted that he has shuttled a lot of passengers to different locations in recent days and that it has been good for his pocket.
After spending millions of dollars building and renovating different stadiums across the city in preparation for AFCON, the decision seems to be already proving to be more than just a football spectacle, offering tangible economic benefits for ordinary citizens.
Morocco has recently become a go-to venue for international competitions hosted by both Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), contributing massively to the country’s economy in the process.
The country will co-host the 2030 World Cup and is also building a 115,000-capacity stadium that promises to be the biggest in the world, as it is set to become football’s next superpower.
