RABAT, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Morocco saw some 2.4 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2018, a 15-percent increase year on year, according to data from the Moroccan Tourism Ministry released on Friday.

International tourist arrivals jumped by 24 percent, while Moroccans living abroad visiting their homeland rose 2 by percent, the statistics show.

This growth was mainly driven by the continuous increase of arrivals from traditional European markets.

The statistics show an increase of 24 percent in German tourists, 13 percent in British visitors, and 12 percent in French and Spanish tourists respectively.

From January to March, tourism revenues reached 1.62 billion U.S. dollars, 20 percent higher from a year ago.

In 2017, Morocco registered a record of 11.35 million tourist arrivals, 10 percent more than 2016.