EP tour operators begin competition as Haj nears

DAMMAM, 13 January — Tour operators in the Eastern Province are coming up with competitive rates to attract prospective pilgrims during the upcoming Haj. However, transport industry sources say that an acute shortage of buses is likely this year as many transport companies in the region have already signed contracts to provide their vehicles to carry pilgrims between ritual sites in Makkah and Madinah.

Anticipating the shortage, many tour operators have rented them from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

“This is the only time of the year when we have shortage of buses in the region,” said Ali M. Shammary, owner of a transport company in Dammam. He said during Haj “we earn our livelihood for the whole year. Rest of the year we rent our buses virtually at cost prices, without taking any profits.”

Transport companies rent out their buses and luxury coaches to private tour operators for Umrah after the Haj season.

Competition is so stiff during offseason that an Umrah package is offered for as low as SR75 per passenger. The package includes the trip to Makkah, one meal during the journey; trip to Madinah from Makkah and return to Dammam or Alkhobar.

The Saudi Public Transport Company charges SR200 per passenger on a one-way trip to Jeddah. Considering SAPTCO’s fare structure, the packages offered by private tour operators are the best bargain

But the scene changes during the Haj season. An entire Haj package ranges from SR2,500 to SR5,000 per passenger  depending on the facilities offered by the operators. These packages include fare, accommodation and meals.

There are even costlier packages which go up to SR7,000 per person. These packages claim to offer five-star facilities to pilgrims.

However, non-professional tour operators offer cheaper rates. These operators offer SR700 to SR1,500 per passenger depending on the kind of accommodation and meals they provide.

Despite a shortage of buses, SAPTCO is offering attractive packages for the pilgrimage. The company uses part of its fleet in the region to reinforce services in the holy sites. A sizable number of its buses are already on contract to transport schoolchildren.