Revenue from Umrah likely to reach SR12bn
SOUVENIRS: Pilgrims shop for souvenirs in Makkah. (AN photo)
Published: Mar 1, 2010 23:34 Updated: Mar 1, 2010 23:39
MAKKAH: Umrah service providers in the Kingdom expect a substantial increase in the number of foreign pilgrims who will come for Umrah this year.
The Haj Ministry has already issued more than 150,000 visas since the beginning of this year’s Umrah season. Moreover, hotels and furnished apartments in Makkah are witnessing 100 percent occupancy.
According to one source, revenue from Umrah traffic are expected to reach SR12 billion by the end of the year. The peak season for the noncompulsory pilgrimage is Ramadan. The increase in occupancy was not limited to five-star or three-star hotels but covered furnished apartments in Makkah’s central region. A business analyst said the services being offered by Umrah companies have played a big role in attracting a large number of pilgrims this year. This will help them offset the losses they suffered last year as result of the global recession and the impact of swine flu.
It is expected that many people who could not come for Haj due to swine flu restrictions last year would come to perform Umrah this year.
One analyst said he expects some 3.3 million pilgrims to come for Umrah this year. He added that Umrah companies will make use of buildings used to accommodate Haj pilgrims to house Umrah pilgrims, especially buildings situated in Aziziya, Kudai, Jarwal and Misfala.
Wael Abdul Hameed, who works in the religious tourism business, said only 60 of 1,000 hotels in Makkah have been given licenses as they failed to fulfill the conditions set by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. “These few licensed hotels can accommodate only 10 percent of Umrah pilgrims,” he said. About 40 Umrah companies have gone out of business, he said, adding that it would not affect the season. “The licenses of 15 companies among them were not renewed because some of their pilgrims overstayed,” he said.
Abdul Hameed said there is improvement in the quality of services being provided by these companies to pilgrims.
“Umrah companies have learned from past mistakes and want to avoid negative impressions. They are now trying to win the confidence of clients by providing them with excellent services,” he said. “They have now realized that only through providing prompt and excellent services they can get more clients,” Abdul Hameed said. However, he pointed out that some Umrah companies have tarnished the image of Saudi Arabia.
“We request the Haj Ministry that they should verify the expertise and capabilities of companies before giving them licenses,” he said.
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AJAZ
Mar 2, 2010 15:06
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