Rabat, Morocco - Morocco expects the international financial crisis to boost its tourism, with European tourists now increasingly choosing the north African country over more distant destinations, Tourism Minister Mohammed Boussaid said Thursday.

The number of tourists visiting Morocco rose by 6 per cent to about 6.7 million in the first ten months of this year, according to figures issued by the ministry on Thursday.

Most of the tourists come from France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and Italy.

However, the tourists only spent about 49 billion dirhams (4.9 billion euros), 1.5 per cent less than during the corresponding period in 2007.

Analysts attributed the lower tourism earnings to the diminished buying power of visitors and to the reduction of consumption opportunities during the holy month of Ramadan in the autumn.

"I am convinced that our country can profit from the current economic crisis," Boussaid told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Morocco would profit from its closeness to Europe, its diverse tourism offer and the liberalization of air traffic, the minister explained. (dpa)