Tourist arrivals in hotels in the Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region increased from 2,333 in January–February 2012 to 2,996 during the same period of the current year, an increase of 30%.

According to statistics on the occupancy of classified hotels in the Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region established by the provincial tourism delegation in Laâyoune, resident tourists occupy the first rank with 1,743 people, an increase of 26%, followed by tourists from Scandinavian countries with 290 people. The same upward trend was recorded for arrivals of Hungarian tourists with 92 tourists compared to 10 people in 2012, and Russian tourists with an increase of 89%. Meanwhile, 168 Arab tourists visited this region during the same period.

Tourist overnight stays continued the upward trend with an increase of 30%, rising from 4,359 in 2012 to 5,668 in 2013. Scandinavian tourists are in the lead with an increase of 1,096%, rising from 27 in January-February 2012 to 323 in 2013. The average length of stay in the region, which ensures a total change of scenery, is two days.

The occupancy rate of classified hotels, residences, and guest houses in Laâyoune reached 13% in January-February compared to 11% during the same period of the previous year.

Due to its geographical location, close to two major tourist attraction hubs (Agadir and the Canary Islands), the Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region plays a dynamic role in promoting tourism in southern Morocco. The region offers several tourist assets including the beach of Laâyoune, the Khnifis Lagoon, the Lamseid Oasis, the Sabkhat de Tah, the Casamar of Tarfaya, and the sand dunes. On the other hand, the tourist infrastructure has undergone significant development; the region has a hotel structure composed of 45 tourist establishments (16 of which are classified) with a bed capacity of 2,384 beds (housed in 1,315 rooms) according to 2009 statistics.

However, in the opinion of local tourism professionals, to ensure a real tourist take-off in this region, it is necessary to proceed with the reopening of the maritime line connecting the cities of Tarfaya and Laâyoune to the Canary Islands, which attract more than 10 million visitors annually.