Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Rabat — The Moroccan Center for Citizenship published a survey this week, assessing public perceptions and practices, offering a glimpse into priority areas for awareness, especially as Morocco is hosting major international events like the World Cup 2030.
The survey, which took place between February and March, studies public space behavior, interpersonal respect, and other public practices related to civic conduct in Morocco.
Understanding survey demographics
The survey featured 1,173 participants, with 75.9% being males and 24.1% being females.
Age distribution among those who were surveyed included a segment aged between 30-39, and this represented 32.6% of the participants.
People aged between 20 to 29 represented 28.4% of the survey, while those aged 40 to 49 represented 11.4%.
About 33.2% of the people surveyed were public employees, followed by students, private-sector workers, and as few as 103% are unemployed.
Retirees make up 5.8% of the survey.f
Respondents with a master’s degree or higher represent 43.5%, and those who hold a bachelor’s degree represent 40.7%.
Rabat-Sale-Kenitra had the highest participation rate, followed by Casablanca-Settat, and Fez- Meknes, as well as Marrakech-Safi, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima in addition to the Oriental.
Results of the survey
The survey studied negative behaviors that could damage Morocco’s reputation during the 2030 World Cup.
Participants identified several concerns, including commercial fraud, poor hygiene, and customer exploitation.
“Practices like overcharging or offering poor-quality services were considered the most damaging by 84.8% of respondents,” the survey reads, noting that 81.7% of the people who took part in the survey expressed concern over behaviors that tarnish the environmental and visual appeal of cities.
About 77% of respondents also cited aggressive or organized begging in tourist areas and stadiums, noting that such behaviour could negatively affect tourists and visitors.
“Lack of clean public restrooms in tourist areas and stadiums,” the report shows, noting that 73.6% of respondents see this issue against Morocco’s infrastructure quality.
In addition to similar civil conduct, the report notably highlighted issues like taxis’ involvement in rejecting customers or tourists, or inflating prices.
About 73% of respondents see similar practices as annoying.
Among the challenges cited in the survey are poor emergency and health services, with 71.7% said they are dissatisfied.
The concerns also cover disregard for queues and public order in stadiums, transport, shops, and public spaces, verbal and physical harassment of female tourists, stressful harassment, reckless driving, disregard for traffic laws, as well as other attitudes against tourists.
Recommendation
The center concluded its survey with a series of recommendations, including fostering civic behavior education into the curriculum at all levels, with an emphasis on empowering the family institution as a key actor in shaping civic behavior.
The center also recommends the launch of national awareness campaigns targeting society at large about desirable behaviors in public spaces, using traditional and digital media.
It also promotes influencers’ involvement in promoting a culture of respect, discipline, and tolerance.
The center also stressed the importance of raising awareness about laws related to civic behavior, simplifying channels for reporting uncivil behaviors, and establishing a local civil enforcement police force with clear mandates to apply the law fairly and effectively.
