Mideast tourists visiting Morocco soar in first three months of 1999

The number of tourists visiting Morocco from the Middle East countries increased by 40.5% during the first three months of 1999 to 12,129 against 8,632 during the same period last year.

In 1998, Morocco attracted 64,000 Mideastern tourists, representing a 19% increase compared with the figures recorded in 1997, according to statistics released in Jeddah on Mideastern tourist movement.

Saudis constitute the largest group of Arab tourists who visited Morocco in 1998 followed by nationals of the United Arab Emirates and the Maghreb.

About two million foreign tourists visited Morocco in 1998, earning the country $1.6 billion.