Travel Advice
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Country Description

Morocco’s constitution provides for a monarchy with a parliament and an independent judiciary. Ultimate authority rests with the King. Morocco has a mixed economy based largely on agriculture, fishing, light industry, phosphate mining, tourism, and remittances from citizens working abroad. Modern tourist facilities and means of transportation are widely available, but may vary in quality depending on price and location. The workweek in Morocco is Monday through Friday.

Entry Requirements

Travelers to Morocco must bear a valid passport. Visas are generally required for visits of more than 90 days.

Areas of Instability

The sparsely-settled Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) was long the site of armed conflict between Government forces and the Polisario Front which has demanded independence. A cease-fire has been in effect since 1991 in the UN administered area. There are thousands of unexploded mines in the Western Sahara and in areas of Mauritania adjacent to the Western Sahara border. Exploding mines are occasionally reported, and have caused death and injury. Transit to the Western Sahara remains restricted; persons planning to travel in the region may obtain information on clearance requirements from the Moroccan Embassy.

Medical Facilities

Adequate medical care in Morocco is available, although not all facilities meet high quality standards, and specialized care or treatment may not be available. Medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in the urban areas, but the medical staff will most likely not be able to communicate in English.

Travelers planning to drive in the mountains and other remote areas may wish to carry a medical kit and a Moroccan phone card for emergencies. In the event of car accidents involving injuries, immediate ambulance service is not guaranteed or provided. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services.

Medical insurance is not always. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including a provision for medical evacuation, has proven useful. The Medicare/Medicaid Program does not provide payment for medical services outside the U.S.

The beaches as well as the ocean in the immediate vicinity of Casablanca are polluted and considered unsafe for swimming, although other coastal areas are safe.

Crime Information

Morocco has a moderately high crime rate in urban areas. Criminals have targeted tourists for assaults, muggings, thefts, pickpocketing, and scams of all types. Commonly reported crimes include falsifying credit-card vouchers, and shipping inferior rugs as a substitute for the rugs purchased by the traveler.

Reports have been made of thefts occurring in the vicinity of ATM machines.

Some travelers have been befriended by persons of various nationalities who have offered them food, drink, or cigarettes which are drugged. Harassment of tourists by unemployed Moroccans posing as “guides” is a common problem. Prudent travelers hire only official tour guides through hotels and travel agencies. Traveling alone in the Rif Mountain area is risky, as tourists have fallen victim to schemes involving the purchase and/or trafficking of hashish. Unescorted women in any area of Morocco may experience verbal abuse.

Thieves sometimes bump cars from behind and rob their victims when they get out of the car to inspect the damage.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

Traffic accidents are a significant hazard in Morocco. Driving practices are poor and have resulted in serious injuries and fatalities. This is particularly true at dusk during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when adherence to traffic regulations is lax, and from July to September, when Moroccans resident abroad return from Europe by car. Often Moroccan police officers pull over drivers for inspection within the city and on highways. In the event of a traffic accident, including accidents involving injuries, the parties are required to remain at the scene and not move their vehicles until the police have arrived and documented all necessary information. This procedure may take several hours.

Road conditions in Morocco can be hazardous, particularly during the rainy season (November - February) when flash flooding is frequent and sometimes severe. Driving on the highway is dangerous, and pedestrians run across the road. The roads in rural and mountainous areas are poorly lit and maintained. While public buses and taxis are inexpensive, drivers typically exhibit poor driving habits and the buses are frequently overcrowded.

Currency Regulations

Travelers checks and credit cards are accepted at some establishments in Morocco, mainly in urban areas. Travelers checks may be cashed at most banks, although some require the bearer to present both the check and the receipt. ATM machines are available in Casablanca and Rabat, and some American bank cards may be used to withdraw local currency on an international account.

Current Moroccan customs procedures do not provide for the accurate or reliable registration of large quantities of foreign currency brought into the country by tourists or other visitors. As a result, travelers encounter difficulties when they attempt to depart with the money incurring heavy fines.

Drug Penalties

Travelers are subject to the laws of the country they are visiting. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.

BACK TO TOP ^