Morocco received 4.3 million tourists in the first three ​months of this year, up 7% 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.

Reuters – Despite ⁠this backdrop, Morocco recorded an ​18% 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% 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.