Morocco’s Dark Side: Tourist Harassment and Scams Tarnish Travel Experience

Visitors point out in particular the treatment reserved for them in regions like Marrakech or Fez, where they are harassed to give tips or assailed by street vendors, or even victims of scams and theft. The traveler can also have unpleasant surprises if he does not know the customs and traditions of the kingdom. The harassment of women in this country is also frowned upon by tourists who sometimes have painful travel experiences in Morocco. Apart from these points, Moroccans are generally very welcoming, they note. The same criticism is made of Egyptians, especially those living in Cairo.

Tourists believe that Paris, the French capital, is also less welcoming due to the language barrier for visitors who only speak English or Spanish, and the coldness and impatience of Parisians towards tourists, who also note the administrative burden. Hospitality also varies in the United States. In large cities like New York or Los Angeles, little attention is paid to tourists. On the other hand, hospitality is felt in the southern states, such as Tennessee or Georgia, where people are more open and sincere. In the major cities of China, tourists are confronted with cultural shock and the language barrier. Hospitality is real, but it is expressed differently, which causes a certain discomfort among visitors.

Among the most welcoming countries are Thailand and Colombia where courtesy and joy are contagious; Portugal, especially Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve where visitors feel at home; or Japan where the visitor is served with kindness, politeness and attention. Tourists also appreciate the hospitality of the Irish and Italians with their particular human warmth.