RABAT: ‌Morocco received 4.3 million tourists in the first three months ​of this year, up 7 percent from a year earlier, the tourism ministry said on Friday even as tensions in the Gulf have weighed ‌on air ‌traffic and ​travel costs ‌globally.

Despite ⁠this ​backdrop, Morocco ⁠recorded an 18 percent rise in tourist arrivals in March, according to a tourism ministry statement.

The ministry attributed the growth to ⁠strengthened air connectivity, a diversification ‌of ‌source markets, and ​improved accommodation and ‌entertainment offerings across the ‌country.

Tourism revenue reached 21.4 billion dirhams ($2.3 billion) by the end of February, up 22.2 percent ‌from a year earlier, according to foreign exchange ⁠regulator ⁠data.

Morocco was the most visited country in Africa last year, attracting 19.8 million tourists.