http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/ Blogging the future of Moroccan tourism Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:41:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-48 starik Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:16:53 +0000 http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-48 I don't think there are 800 unlicensed guides in Fes. I don't think there are even 80 false guides as we call them in French. The number 840 people the Tourism brigade arrested in Fes last year for fraud and impersonating an official guide does not mean those 840 pseudo guides are the same people. Most of them are the same individuals police keep arresting again and again because the justice courts release them after spending a short time in jail instead of full sentence because there is no room in prison. And because these pseudo guides have no other professional skills than what they do, they return to do the same business even if it they get arrested and sent to jail. For them, getting arrested and sent to jail is better than unemployment. I don’t think there are 800 unlicensed guides in Fes. I don’t think there are even 80
false guides as we call them in French.
The number 840 people the Tourism brigade arrested in Fes last year for fraud and impersonating an official guide does not mean those 840 pseudo guides are the same people. Most of them are the same individuals police keep arresting again and again because the justice courts release them after spending a short time in jail instead of full
sentence because there is no room in prison.
And because these pseudo guides have no other professional skills than what they do, they return to do the same business even if it they get arrested and sent to jail.
For them, getting arrested and sent to jail is better than unemployment.

]]> http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-49 dysfunctional Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:03:24 +0000 http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-49 Fair points. Still, from a tourist perspective, it's good to see the problem being tackled. Fair points. Still, from a tourist perspective, it’s good to see the problem being tackled.

]]> http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-2449 Paula Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:26:10 +0000 http://www.moroccosavvy.com/blog/2007/02/21/fes-over-800-faux-guides-arrested-in-2006/#comment-2449 But is it really a problem? A local is a local, and all the faux guides I met and/or experienced were no less informed than the ones with "necessary" licensing. Especially those in cities. Mountains guides definitely should have more training for safety reasons, but other than that, I don't understand the crackdown. The tourism brigade certainly needs to keep up appearances for the sake of jumpy and fearful tourists, but perhaps it is just another certification that costs money which most moroccans can't afford. Intuition and open eyes will find you the best guides anywhere- certified or not. -Paula, Colorado But is it really a problem? A local is a local, and all the faux guides I met and/or experienced were no less informed than the ones with “necessary” licensing. Especially those in cities. Mountains guides definitely should have more training for safety reasons, but other than that, I don’t understand the crackdown. The tourism brigade certainly needs to keep up appearances for the sake of jumpy and fearful tourists, but perhaps it is just another certification that costs money which most moroccans can’t afford. Intuition and open eyes will find you the best guides anywhere- certified or not. -Paula, Colorado

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