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I'm planning a trip to Morocco at the end of this year. Considering the Arab Spring and regular precautions, are there any "official" safety recommendations relevant to travellers from the western world? Have these safety recommendations changed in the recent past?
Has anyone been there recently and have some more information that goes beyond what I find on the web pages of national travel advice? What was your experience, or "gut feeling" regarding safety?
As far as I know, Morocco is a completely different situation. There were some demonstrations, but no violence to speak of.
The Arab Spring is about regime change, overthrowing a dictator. The Moroccan King, according to Moroccans is talked to, is not viewed as a dictator like they have/had in Tunisia, Syria or Libya.
In Morocco they have elections, and are considered to be a reasonable free country. The king is however above discussion and/or elections, but he is viewed as quite liberal and progressive; generally in favour of modernising the country and political system. So although they have elections, it is not a complete democracy (and far from a dictatorial regime).
There will be new elections soon, and most of the people seem content with that decision. So, in conclusion, I do not think there is any real risk of violence.
Actually according to Wikipedia, the Arab Spring did indeed arrive at and affect Morocco.
To quote:
In early February 2011, protests were held in Rabat, Fez and Tangier in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution. Subsequently, a day of protest in favour of Moroccan constitutional reform and social justice was planned for 20 February and advertised on social networking sites. Among the demands of the organisers was that the constitutional role of the king should be "reduced to its natural size". The interior minister Taib Cherkaoui affirmed the right of the protests to take place. On 20 February, around 37,000 people participated in demonstrations across Morocco, according to government sources. Some protests were marred by violence and damage to property. In Al Hoceima, five people died after protesters set fire to a bank. On 26 February, a further protest was held in Casablanca.
On 9 March, in a live televised address, King Mohammed announced that he would begin a comprehensive constitutional reform aimed at improving democracy and the rule of law. He promised to form a commission to work on constitutional revisions, which would make proposals to him by June, after which a referendum would be held on the draft constitution.
On 20 March, a further protest was held in Casablanca to mark the end of the first month since the original 20 February demonstrations and to maintain pressure for reform. Protesters, numbering 20,000, demanded the resignation of a number of senior politicians, including the prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, who they regarded as corrupt. On the same day, around 6,000 people demonstrated in Rabat.
In June, a referendum was held on changes to the constitution, which became law on 13 September. Some protesters felt that the reforms did not go far enough. On 18 September, 3,000 people demonstrated in Casablanca and 2,000 in Tangier, demanding an end to the king's roles as head of the army and of religious affairs. In October, around 50 imams protested in Rabat against state control of their activities.
Elections were held on the basis of the new constitution in November 2011, with electoral lists reserved for young and female candidates and with the post of prime minister, previously an appointment of the king, being decided by the outcome of the vote.
