Where's the Disconnect?

During my time here, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in the home of one of the friends we made at the university. This was by far one of the most enriching experiences that I had in my stay—staying with a family and experiencing some of their daily life taught me and showed me more of Morocco than any of the tourist or educational sites that I visited. My perception of Moroccan hospitality was taken to an entirely new level: we were delayed in arriving at their home the first night, and did not get there until about 11:00. When we arrived, they still managed to have a hot tajine waiting for us to enjoy. They took us to the medina in Fez, to the shopping mall, and to their family farm out towards Ifrane. The mother in the family gave each of the girls (there were a few of us staying there) necklaces to bring home. Not only were they tangibly hospitable, but also everything about their demeanor toward us was welcoming and kind.

Spending a weekend with this family made me wish that every American who travels to Morocco could have such an experience. No matter how beautiful the architecture and landscape is all over the country, it is the people that truly make Morocco what it is in a way that no mosque or oasis could.

After looking at these stereotypes within the Moroccan destination image, it is easy to wonder why, after all this time, there are still so many discrepancies between the reality and the preconceptions of Morocco. Tourists get caught in a cycle that keeps them from having a realistic view of Morocco before they come. Media presents Morocco to the rest of the world in a stylized, exaggerated picture that becomes the destination image that they expect. In the host country, workers in the travel industry realize that in order to make money they need to give tourists what they are looking for, so they exaggerate and cater to the aspects of Moroccan culture that “sell” and present these to tourists. Tourists then observe these things and return home with photos and souvenirs that are based on a marketed image. My research on the effects of tourism brought me to Theobald, who states “Tourism can provide an impetus for the preservation of ancient cultures, but too often the local way of life degenerates into a commercially organized effigy of its former self. The traditional dances and the skilled craftwork give way to cheap imitations to satisfy the needs of the visitor and to obtain money with the least possible effort.” (88)

According to Karaberg, Furst, and Hagen, there is a growing paradox in that it is becoming progressively easier to travel, while at the same time opportunities to experience a culture authentically are becoming scarcer. “Instead of giving the traveler a way to absorb the memes of the destination culture, this degenerate tourism damages the destination memes and imposes its own, while keeping the traveler in a constructed island of his own culture.” Many of the most popular tourist destinations make sure to cater to the comforts and preferences of Western travelers, even if this means adjusting the traditional aspects of the culture.

One would think that, as more and more people travel and see the actuality of the country, destination images would fade to some degree and tourists could arrive with a realistic impression of what they will experience, they could enjoy the culture and see it for what it is, and depictions of the culture to the rest of the world could be accurate. This is an oversimplification, definitely, but many potential travelers are aiming to experience more “authentic travel” in their destinations. Rather than only visiting the popular tourist spots, they are venturing beyond in order to get a more “true” experience of the host culture.

At first glance this seems like an entirely good idea, however there are some concerns with the development of authentic travel. Theobald cautions against authentic tourism’s hasty attempt to penetrate the “back region” of a destination—for some communities, having a back region that is private and away from the clicking cameras of tourists is important and protected. It would be best if a balance could be struck between the two: giving travelers a chance to experience Moroccan culture without invading the privacy that many try to retain.

My mind goes back to my first days here, when I wondered whether my experience in the Rabat medina or driving up to Ifrane was more authentic Morocco. The truth is, both of these are genuine parts of Moroccan culture. A Berber tour guide whose job it is to lead tourists through the desert on a camel is living just as “authentic” a Moroccan experience as the man who works as a leather tanner in Fez or as a businessman in Casablanca. It is the people, not the images that make up the true Moroccan culture—tourism is one of the top industries in the economy, and thus it is an integral part of Moroccan society. Although the “tourist culture” may cater in some ways to its foreign visitors, it should be noted that this is still an authentic part of Moroccan culture.

And so, as a traveler to Morocco, hopefully you have learned a few things about the differences between the expectations and realities in Moroccan culture! The most important things to keep in mind are that you should not go into Morocco with a postcard image in your mind and expect everything to be the way you pictured. There will be stark contrasts also striking similarities—not everything will feel like the backdrop of a movie, but there is something picturesque to be found in nearly every corner of this country, if you have the eyes to see it.