Morocco Travel Advice for Australians :D

[ThA-MeSsEnGeR]

is that really what Morocco is??????????



This Advice is current for Saturday, 19 February 2005.
The Advice was issued on Friday, 08 October 2004, 10:29:14, AEST

Australians in Morocco should exercise a high degree of caution. The risk of possible terrorist attacks against Western interests remains.

Safety and Security
Terrorism
Australian travellers should be aware of the threat of terrorism globally and should read this travel advice in conjunction with the General Advice to Australian Travellers.

The risk of possible terrorist attacks against Western interests remains, including in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as - but not limited to - hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension
Large public gatherings and demonstrations have turned violent in the past.

Personal Security
Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing, bag snatching, credit card fraud, substituting inferior goods for those that were actually purchased, and other scams are increasing. Intimidation is sometimes used to force customers to purchase goods. In popular tourist areas, including Tangiers, Fez, Marrakech, Agadir and Essaouira, aggressive begging and harassment of tourists by males posing as official tourist guides is common. There are reports of banditry and extortion in the Rif Mountain region and of kidnappings in the coastal towns of Asilah.

Prior to travel, Australians should ensure they have a variety of financial options available to them including credit cards, travellers' cheques and Euros or US dollars cash. Australians should consult their automatic teller machine (ATM) card provider for information about overseas services and availability. Not all overseas ATMs accept Australian cards.

Australians should only carry sufficient cash for their daily needs, secure their valuables against theft and avoid displays of wealth at all times. Under no circumstances should valuables be left unattended. Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence and travellers' cheques should be kept separately from the originals.

In many countries, passports are a prime target of theft for illegal purposes. Your passport should always be kept in a safe place, as considerable inconvenience and disruption to travel plans may result from its theft or loss. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.