RIYADH, 25 January 2005 — With the pilgrims returning after the Haj, the possibility of many of them remaining here as overstayers cannot be ruled out, some Haj operators say.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one operator told Arab News that despite the stringent measures taken by the government to crack down on overstayers, the problem is bound to persist.
According to him, the tawafa establishments are required to keep a bank guarantee of SR200,000 as surety against any fines imposed on them.
They in turn bind Haj operators from the respective countries of South Asia to surety, which, in the case of India, for example, works out to Rs. 85,000 (around SR7,500) for arranging Haj visas.
“Since we are liable to penalties in the event of the pilgrim staying back in Saudi Arabia, we incur a heavy loss each time a pilgrim disappears. So we charge an extra amount (Rs.15,000) over and above the normal rate to cover the loss that we sustain when someone fails to return either after Haj or Umrah. Our main source of business comes from people working as tailors or construction workers who are likely to disappear once they land in the Kingdom,” the operator said.
The problem of overstayers has assumed a serious dimension, since the number of pilgrims who come for Haj or Umrah is estimated at 3.5 million annually, of whom over 200,000 may have stayed back.
In November last year, the Ministry of Haj threatened to punish 20 Umrah companies for violating their contractual obligations with pilgrims.
The ministry said some erring firms may be penalized, while others could have their licenses revoked.
Local agents are required to look after the pilgrims’ accommodation and transportation between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah and must ensure the pilgrims in their charge return home before their Haj or Umrah visa runs out.
Of the 137 firms established to serve the pilgrims, scores have been fined, while some others were shut down for flouting contractual obligations.
In the first year after the system came into effect, the ministry either closed down or fined 25 Umrah companies found guilty of malpractices involving overseas pilgrims or otherwise implicated in shady dealings, such as selling visas at an inflated price. The following year 14 organizations were suspended.
The Passport Department has slapped fines worth SR10 million on the errant firms. Yet, pilgrims coming for Umrah give tour operators the slip and go into hiding till Haj. Many return home after performing the pilgrimage, while others stay back in search of jobs risking even detention and deportation. It is a problem Saudi authorities have to grapple with every year.
As part of its crackdown on overstayers the Haj Ministry signed a contract with a local firm to provide an IT solution for tracking the pilgrims.
But, say the operators, it is a nightmarish operation, given the large numbers of people visiting Makkah during the Haj. The solution involves monitoring the movement of pilgrims right from the pickup of pilgrims at entry points to the time of their departure.
To this end, tawafa establishments for pilgrims from South Asia and Arab countries use portable data terminals to log in the details of the pilgrims being received at the airports. These pilgrims are then issued ID cards at their arrival in Makkah. Since travel documents are handed over to the establishments for safe custody, they not only serve the purpose of identification but also as a guide to offices.
Even so, it is pointed out, those determined to overstay get out of the loop at some point along the way and give Haj establishments the slip. It’s a vicious circle with no end in sight.
