Cape Town, South Africa — Morocco has ascended to the second position in the 2026 China Ready Index, a significant accolade highlighting its readiness to welcome the growing wave of Chinese tourists. Egypt takes the top spot, followed by Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in the top five.
The China Ready Index, developed by CBISN, evaluates destinations across various dimensions, including safety, infrastructure, and marketing strategies.
The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) has set ambitious targets, aiming to attract 500,000 Chinese tourists by 2026 and a million by 2030, reflecting a strategic pivot towards the Asian market. Morocco earned the China Ready label in May 2025, expanding its air connectivity with the launch of a direct Shanghai-Casablanca route by China Eastern Airlines.
The kingdom’s efforts to enhance its appeal to Chinese travelers include infrastructure improvements and tailored marketing campaigns. This strategic focus is underpinned by the country’s economic diversification strategy, which aims to surpass 26 million international tourists by 2030, with the Asian market serving as a cornerstone.
The ranking comes as Morocco prepares to co — host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal in 2030, a move expected to further elevate the country’s profile and attract Chinese tourists. Challenges remain, including ensuring high-quality services and managing sustainable tourism practices to avoid over-tourism.
The China Ready Index panel session, moderated by Marcus Lee, CEO of China Travel Online, showcased the commitment of various African nations to tap into the burgeoning Chinese outbound travel sector.
The index covers 55 countries across six continents, emphasizing the importance of being “China Ready “in today’s global tourism landscape.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: moroccoworldnews
Source: Adil Faouzi
