The tourism sector in Al Haouz Province continued to record positive indicators in 2026, with an increase in the number of overnight stays in classified tourist accommodation establishments. The trend reflects the continued momentum of tourism activity in the province, one of Morocco’s prominent natural and mountain destinations.

According to data from the Tourism Observatory, classified tourist accommodation establishments in Al Haouz recorded 864,977 overnight stays during the first seven months of 2026, representing an increase of 9% compared with the same period in 2025.

These figures come at a time when tourism in Al Haouz appears to be entering a new phase, one that involves not only increasing visitor numbers but also improving the overall tourism experience and highlighting the region’s diverse attractions.

Overnight stays in Al Haouz rise by 9%

Between January and the end of July 2026, overnight stays recorded in Al Haouz represented approximately 3% of the national total.

The occupancy rate of classified tourist accommodation establishments in the province reached 75%, down by two percentage points compared with the same period last year.

Despite this slight decline in occupancy, the increase in the total number of overnight stays indicates continued demand for tourist accommodation in the province and Al Haouz’s growing presence on Morocco’s national tourism map.

July records strong growth in tourism activity

July also produced notable results, with classified tourist accommodation establishments in Al Haouz recording 138,156 overnight stays, an increase of 20% compared with July 2025.

The occupancy rate reached 78%, a slight one-point decrease compared with July of the previous year.

These results are particularly significant as July marks the beginning of the summer tourism season, a period that generally sees increased demand for mountain and nature destinations.

More than 25.8 million overnight stays nationwide

At the national level, classified tourist accommodation establishments recorded more than 25.8 million overnight stays during the first seven months of 2026, an increase of 8% compared with the same period in 2025.

The national occupancy rate stood at 56%, up by one percentage point year on year.

These figures point to continued improvement in tourism activity in Morocco, while Al Haouz continues to strengthen its position as a destination combining mountain tourism, nature tourism and various forms of tourist accommodation.

From rising figures to improving the tourism experience

An increase in overnight stays is an important indicator, but tourism development is not measured by figures alone.

Visitors choosing Al Haouz are also looking for a complete tourism experience, beginning with access to the destination and continuing with the choice of accommodation, restaurants, cafés and activities, before ending with the overall impression they take away with them.

This makes it increasingly important to provide visitors with better information about the tourist establishments and services available throughout the province, while highlighting what these businesses actually offer.

Ourika Press: from tourism news to a field-based guide

Against this backdrop, Ourika Press is continuing to develop its “Ourika Tourism Guide”, a project designed to provide a different kind of content about the region.

The objective is not limited to presenting natural attractions and tourist sites. The project also aims to accompany visitors through the different stages of their experience.

The guide seeks to become a practical reference for people wishing to discover Ourika by presenting its landscapes, mountains, villages, historical and cultural sites, as well as practical information that can help visitors plan their trips.

Field visits to hotels, restaurants, cafés and tourist accommodations

As part of the future development of this project, Ourika Press plans to organize field visits to a number of tourist establishments in the region, including hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, cafés and selected accommodation facilities and mountain refuges.

These visits will aim to directly assess the services provided to customers, accommodation conditions, available facilities, reception services and the features that distinguish each establishment.

Depending on the nature of each location, the visits will be supported by photographs, videos and on-site documentation, allowing readers to discover the establishment, its facilities and its services before deciding to visit.

A real experience beyond theoretical information

This approach is not intended to turn the “Ourika Tourism Guide” into a conventional advertising platform. Rather, it aims to move from theoretical information to first-hand field observation.

For visitors, knowing the name of a hotel, restaurant or café is not enough. They also want to know what they will actually find there, what services are available and what kind of experience they can expect.

The field visits will therefore seek to present information clearly and objectively, while distinguishing editorial content from advertising content in order to preserve readers’ trust and the credibility of the guide.

Ourika: a destination waiting to be rediscovered

The initiative comes at a time of growing interest in Ourika’s tourism potential. Located near Marrakech, the destination combines mountain landscapes, waterways, villages, natural scenery and local cultural heritage.

Through the “Ourika Tourism Guide,” Ourika Press aims to present the region from different perspectives, going beyond its best-known attractions to explore lesser-known places as well as the establishments and services that form an essential part of the visitor experience.

Towards a tourism guide built from the field

Through this project, Ourika Press aims to build a comprehensive digital reference for Ourika, one that can evolve over time through the addition of new destinations, experiences, establishments and services, as well as regular updates to existing information.

Tourism today is no longer based solely on attractive images or brief descriptions. It increasingly depends on reliable content, real experiences and practical information.

For this reason, the “Ourika Tourism Guide” is intended to be more than a series of articles. It is an open-ended documentation and discovery project designed to provide readers with a closer picture of reality and help visitors understand the destination before they arrive.

Al Haouz enters a new phase of tourism momentum

The indicators recorded during the first seven months of 2026 confirm the continued momentum of tourism in Al Haouz, with overnight stays rising by 9% and July alone recording a 20% increase.

While these figures measure the scale of tourism activity, the next challenge is also to turn this growing demand into a more complete tourism experience, based on service quality, diversity of the tourism offer and better promotion of local assets.

In this context, Ourika Press is positioning the “Ourika Tourism Guide” as a window onto the region, presenting visitors with the place as it is, the service as it is offered and the experience as it is lived.