Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:518 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!compuserve.COM!76702.1202 From: 76702.1202@compuserve.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Morocco Message-ID: <940801150442_76702.1202_CHN58-1@CompuServe.COM> Sender: daemon@world.std.com (World Mail) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 15:04:42 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 88 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Morocco ============================================================ Morocco - Consular Information Sheet July 28, 1994 Country Description: Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with a developing economy. Tourist facilities and means of transportation are widely available, but may vary in quality depending on price and location. Entry Requirements: A passport is required. A visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days. For further information concerning entry requirements for Morocco, travelers may contact the Embassy of Morocco at 1601 21st St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone (202) 462-7979 to 82, or the Moroccan Consulate General in New York, telephone (212) 758-2625. Areas of Instability: The sparsely-settled Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) was long the site of armed conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco on the issue of independence versus Moroccan sovereignty. Although a ceasefire is presently in place, several violations have occurred and the area cannot be considered safe. There are reports of 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: Medical care in Morocco is available, although not all facilities meet high quality standards and specialized care or treatment may not be available. 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. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proven useful. Specific health questions may be addressed to the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at telephone (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Morocco has a moderately high crime rate in urban areas. Criminals have targeted tourists for assaults, muggings, thefts, pickpocketings, 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. Some travelers have been befriended by persons of various nationalities who have offered the travelers food, drink, or cigarettes which are drugged. Harassment of tourists by unemployed Moroccans trying to be "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. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Currency Regulations: Travelers checks and credit cards are accepted at some establishments in Morocco, mainly in urban areas. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General can obtain updated information on travel and security within Morocco. Embassy and Consulate Locations: The U.S. Embassy in Rabat is located at 2 Avenue de Marrakech in the capital city of Rabat, telephone (212-7) 76-22-65. The American Consulate General in Casablanca is located at 8 Boulevard Moulay Youssef, telephone (212-2) 26-45-50. No. 94-142 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Morocco issued August 31, 1993 to add information on carrying a medical kit when traveling in remote areas.