Morocco’s New Tourist Allowance Policy Limits Travel Options for Citizens

Imposing on banks the unification of their clients’ dirham and foreign currency checking accounts. This is the new reform undertaken by the Office of Exchange to, as it indicates, simplify the regime of tourist allowances. A few months after its implementation, this reform is already showing its limits. It is no longer possible for Moroccans to reserve foreign currency in advance before traveling abroad. In addition, it is difficult or even impossible for them to use the tourist allowance, as the foreign currency account is no longer separate from the ordinary account, Challenge reports.

As a result, their cards have been refused for critical payments during their stays outside the borders (hotels, transportation, etc.) due to unforeseen events (a check returned for collection before its due date by its beneficiary) or a malfunction or fraud (wrongful debit, phishing of bank cards, etc.) that have swallowed up their savings or their authorization with their respective banks. Enormous damage that proves that the old system was flexible and simplified the lives of Moroccans traveling abroad.