{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/morocco/merzouga","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:37:57.248Z","place":{"city":"Merzouga","country":"Morocco","countryCode":"MA","lat":31.0999166,"lon":-4.0140878},"safety":{"score":74,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":78,"confidence":0.83,"caps":[],"databaseScore":71,"travellerSentiment":{"score":85,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Tourist enthusiasm is high — Morocco is in a tourism boom (Jun 2026) with visitors describing Sahara experiences as transformative and 'once-in-a-lifetime.' However, traveller reports focus on natural beauty and adventure rather than personal-safety sentiment.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":70,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":96,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":75,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":85,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":63,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-02-17T10:48:54Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.70500474577332,"display":"1.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":88,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":3.9,"display":"3.9%","year":"2019","score":87,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":18.6,"display":"18.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":45,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":58.3648187,"display":"58/100","year":"2024","score":58,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":50.6345517,"display":"51/100","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":37.3557196,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":54.7695462,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":54.4419236,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":44.1300931,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.51,"display":"0.51 / 100k","year":"2024","score":85,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":31,"display":"31.0%","year":"2018","score":40,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":77,"display":"US AQI 77 · Moderate","year":null,"score":77,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":7.302350039,"display":"7 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":45,"display":"July: highs ~45°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":70,"display":"70 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Merzouga is generally safe for visitors, but July presents serious heat hazards (40+°C) and road safety requires caution.","summary":"Merzouga is located in a country with low violent crime (homicide 1.7/100k) and no recent terrorism threat, making it safer than most destinations. However, July's extreme heat and Morocco's high road-traffic death rate (18.6/100k) are genuine risks for travellers, as is limited medical infrastructure in this remote desert location.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Violent street robbery is rare in Morocco (homicide 1.7/100k). However, petty theft and bag-snatching can occur in tourist areas — remain vigilant."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Petty theft is not a major safety concern in Merzouga specifically, but stay alert in populated tourist zones and avoid displaying valuables."},"safeAreas":["Merzouga Town Center","Hotel District","Hassi Labiad","The Souq/Market Area"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":[],"zones":[{"name":"Merzouga Town Center","level":"safe","note":"Market and main accommodation hub; low street crime, busy tourism foot traffic"},{"name":"Hotel District","level":"safe","note":"Well-maintained tourist accommodations; reliable security and facilities"},{"name":"Hassi Labiad","level":"safe","note":"Neighboring village; quiet and secure for visitor interactions"},{"name":"The Souq/Market Area","level":"safe","note":"Traditional marketplace; standard haggling culture, petty theft risk minimal with awareness"},{"name":"Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes","level":"caution","note":"Main attraction but extreme July heat (44°C) and off-road accident risk; use licensed operators only"},{"name":"Desert periphery","level":"caution","note":"Remote areas; heat exposure, limited medical access, recommend guided tours only"}]}}