JEDDAH, 21 August 2004 — Ramadan is nearly two months away, yet rooms in most of the hotels in Makkah and Madinah have “already been sold out” for at least the first 20 days of the holy month, according to industry sources.

One veteran who has been in the hospitality field for nearly three decades, and who did not want to be identified said that in most of the hotels 50 percent of the rooms have been bought by wholesalers. The rest have been kept by hotels to be released at premium prices as Ramadan nears and prices go up, particularly during the last 10 days of the holy month.

Umrah pilgrims started arriving from the very beginning of the season — April 20, 2004 (Rabiul Awwal 1, 1425).

Fayyaz H. Siddiqui, chief operating officer, Hajeej told Arab News that an estimated 2.5 million to 2.7 million Umrah pilgrims are expected this season.

“There was about 70 percent increase in Umrah traffic during the mid-June to mid-August school holidays period. Looking at the trend one can expect a large increase during Ramadan,” he said.

Last year Hajeej hosted about 3,500 Umrah pilgrims in Ramadan. This year it expects a 100 percent increase. It offers from 4-star and above accommodation and caters for pilgrims from the United States, Canada, Britain, Holland, Malaysia, Japan and Pakistan. Packages cost from SR2,100 to SR50,000 per person for stay ranging from five nights to one month.

According to Nihal Shaji, marketing manager, Hamid A. Mira Co. Ltd. Umrah and Visit Services, this Ramadan more than 500,000 out of over two million Umrah visitors are expected.

“Since the beginning of the season there has been an increase in the number of arrivals, and in Ramadan it will be 10 percent to 15 percent more than the same period last year,” he said. “Last 10 days of Ramadan packages — ‘Akhri Ashra,’ cost up to about SR40,000,” he added.

Syed M. Mujeeb, general manager of Al-Hussam Group’s Fast Aviation said that the Umrah traffic began slow and started picking up after about a month into the season.

Initially, the pilgrims are from the Far East — Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, many of them preferring 3 or-4-star hotel packages. Pilgrims from India and Pakistan are “late arrivals, and not in big numbers.” Prices remain competitive until the middle of August. From then on to mid-October there is a marginal increase, and gets high effective Ramadan 1 to Ramadan 19. From then on to end of Ramadan a majority of the hotels, especially those near the two Holy Harams, offer only 10-day packages.

A study has shown that of all the hotel rooms in the Kingdom 80 percent are in the Western Region — Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

There are at least 4,500 rooms each in 5-4-3-star hotels in Makkah and Madinah with more furnished apartments in Madinah than in Makkah.

As the last 10 days are expensive, less than 1 percent stay in Jeddah, mostly from the Far East.

“The bulk of Umrah pilgrims arrives in Ramadan. Saudi Arabian Airlines brings the majority of Umrah pilgrims throughout the year, during Ramadan, and all transit Umrah visitors, for which the airline has the exclusive right,” a senior Saudi Arabian Airlines executive said. As always, the airline is planning a number of extra flights from various destinations.

“We are expecting a heavy load from the GCC countries. Gulf Air will carry nearly 20 percent more passengers during Ramadan than in the same period last year. It will be operating a number of extra Umrah flights,” said Syed Shahabuddin, district sales manager of Gulf Air. “The airline will bring large numbers also from the sub-continent — India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,” he added.

Last year, nearly 2.3 million people performed Umrah from the start of the season to the end of Ramadan, which was an increase of 200,000 over 2002.

Egypt topped in numbers with 623,227, of the total visitors, followed by Iran 553,874, Pakistan 299,017, Syria 172,443, Yemen 167,475, and Jordan 131,636.

Umrah movement from Iran this year until Ramadan is expected to be at least 600,000, of which nearly 17 percent or 100,000 will be during Ramadan alone. “We handle a good number from Iran — about 100,000,” said Adel Dahlawi, controller and operations manager, Jamjoom Umrah. “We also handle Umrah visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Nigeria,” he added.

Chander Nain, general manager, Jeddah Trident Hotel said that Umrah visitors, especially from the Far East, South Africa, and also Egypt stay at the hotel for at least one day either on arrival or on return.

“We have 216 rooms, and 43 deluxe suites, and 10 percent to 12 percent of our occupancy is because of Umrah visitors, who begin to arrive as soon as the season opens. The occupancy goes up to at least 30 percent in Ramadan. They stay before and after Ramadan, but earlier they used to stay last 10 days in Ramadan.

Madinah Oberoi is always full for the whole year. It has clientele from royals to commoners. It has 328 rooms including 43 suites with 80 percent occupancy. Every weekend and Ramadan it reaches 100 percent.