Major Rule Change for Tourists at Moroccan Hotels

Unmarried couples and solo women in Morocco will no longer need to present a marriage certificate to book a hotel room, marking a significant shift in the country's longstanding practices.

Previously, Moroccan hotels routinely refused to accommodate women traveling alone and unmarried couples, despite this rule not being formally embedded in the law. However, this practice has now been officially overturned by authorities, who have directed all hotels to stop asking for proof of marriage.

Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi, in a May parliamentary session, emphasized that demanding a marriage certificate is against the law. "Those who ask for this document at the hotel are breaking the law and can face legal action," he stated.

Despite this progress, the decision has sparked controversy. Critics, including Abu Zaid Al-Muqri Al-Idrissi, leader of the Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD), argue that this change could lead to societal issues. He warned that it might promote corruption, spread diseases, and lead to family disintegration.

Al-Muqri Al-Idrissi further expressed concerns about the measure fostering "family disintegration, the proliferation of illegitimate children, and dangers to society and families," suggesting it could result in a weakened social fabric. He labeled the day of the announcement as "sad" and criticized the changes as bowing to Western pressures.

Justice Minister Ouahbi, head of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), has been advocating for more progressive laws since his appointment in 2021. This hotel rule change is seen as a milestone in his mission to decriminalize consensual relationships outside of marriage.

Additionally, Ouahbi has been instrumental in pushing for reforms to Morocco's family code, although these changes are still pending approval from the King.