From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Morocco Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 13:13:22 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1015 Path: world!root Message-ID: <960327131321_76702.1202_CHN39-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: root@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 103 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Morocco ============================================================ Morocco - Consular Information Sheet March 26, 1996 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: For 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, including a provision for medical evacuation, may prove useful. Specific health questions may be addressed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline telephone (404) 332-4559. 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. The Embassy and Consulate have also received reports 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 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. Driving on the highway at night can be dangerous. In Casablanca, persons have thrown large rocks at cars from overpasses. These incidents have led to several accidents and at least one death. 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/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. Updated information on travel and security within Morocco may be obtained at the Embassy. 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. 96-073 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Morocco issued July 24, 1994, revising the section on crime to include theft at ATM machines and rocks thrown from overpasses in Casablanca, and revising the section on entry requirements. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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