DAMMAM, 12 December — Both Saudi and expatriate pilgrims in the Eastern Province are complaining about the steep rise in the charges demanded by Umrah-tour organizers in the region during the last days of Ramadan.
A pilgrim is charged SR500 for a trip to Makkah, against SR100 for a round-trip (including lodging) last year, a pilgrim told Arab News. Other pilgrims are urging the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to stop the exploitation of pilgrims by tour organizers.
The charges go up in the last 10 days of the holy month as tour operators exploit believers’ desire to perform Umrah during this period. The beginning of school vacation for Eid on 20th of Ramadan is another factor that gives tour operators a bargaining chip.
A source in the tour sector explained that they were forced to increase the charges because they hire more buses at the end of the month at very high rates, as the demand rises sharply.
Owners of real estate in Makkah and Madinah also demand exorbitant rent for these days, the operator added.
The charge without lodging increased from SR130 in the first week of the holy month to SR200 in the second week. But in the third week a trip to Makkah alone rose to SR350 and if Madinah was included in the program the pilgrim had to pay SR400.
The tour operators demanded SR2,700 for an Umrah trip by air including food and lodging. The charge for a two-day family trip by air to Makkah with accommodation close to the Grand Mosque was SR6,000.
There are 30 firms which organize Haj and Umrah services in the province. In peak seasons they each serve an average of 1,000 pilgrims a day.
