Should I Travel To Morocco Right Now?
With political tension on the rise in North Africa and the Middle East, many travelers have questions about the situation in Morocco. At Journey Beyond Travel, we want you to feel safe and secure in your choice to visit Morocco. We also realize that travelers have legitimate concerns about visiting Morocco at this time, so we’ve put together an FAQ with some the more common questions we’ve received about travel in Morocco and the region in general.
Q: I’ve seen the news reports about demonstrations and protests in places like Egypt and Tunisia. Are there similar demonstrations happening now in Morocco?
A: No, though there are rumblings that protests and demonstrations could take place in the country before too long.
Q: Are tensions in the country high?
A: Yes, but not in the way you may think. Morocco and Moroccans are sympathetic to the protesters they see on the news each day, but, as of late, have not felt they are under the same duress. Morocco has a largely open political climate, and the public is allowed to demonstrate and speak openly against government policy—something many of the Egyptian and Tunisian protesters have listed as a major complaint against their own governments.
Q: But you say there is still tension. What do you mean by that?
A: Moroccans are very well informed and keep abreast of global affairs. That they themselves are not protesting right now does not mean they have not taken sides. While it’s usually considered prudent to avoid political conversation as a rule, whether about Western military power, the status of the Western Sahara or anything else for that matter, this rule of thumb holds especially true now.
Q: Morocco is a monarchy. Don’t the people wish they had greater personal freedoms?
A: Yes, but for the vast majority of Morocco, life is very good right now. When the current King, Mohammad VI, took power, he began a sweeping liberalization of the country and its laws. In the last decade the country has loosened laws on not only public demonstrations, but also women’s rights, freedom of the press and the rights of minorities.
Q: That’s great, but there must be a few areas where people have reason to be upset, right?
A: Yes. While freedom of the press has been expanded, it is still against the law to write anything mocking or criticizing the King. One young man was recently sentenced to three years in jail for creating a fake Facebook page for the monarch. Also, economic inequality is staggering in Morocco, and while the situation has been improving, many people are still forced to live in slums and shantytowns. That said, the government has been working to improve living conditions and public health, but there is still a long way to go.
Q: Would it be risky for me to travel to Morocco right now?
A: Not necessarily, or certainly no more so than any other time of year. The situation in the country is currently stable, and Moroccans value the income from tourism. Any anger or frustration they have is not toward tourists. If you take the same basic precautions you would on any trip to the country, you should be in no danger. Keep abreast of the news, avoid gatherings of large people and don’t become involved in any political demonstrations yourself. As always, make sure people know where you are, register with your embassy before traveling and take a working cell phone and the numbers of your country’s embassy and emergency contacts.
Please note that this is the opinion of Journey Beyond Travel and does not constitute personal travel advice. You are responsible for all decisions you make should you choose to travel to Morocco at this time.
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