MADINAH, 10 January 2006 — Madinah is now empty from pilgrims that left to Makkah for Haj, but full of visitors from all over the Kingdom. This is considered a reverse pilgrimage when real pilgrims leave Madinah to Makkah and visitors make their visiting pilgrimage to Madinah to spend Eid vacation. It has now become a habit for people from Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province to spend their time in Madinah during Eid.
Flocking to Madinah for the mild winter weather, these Eid pilgrims take advantage of the exodus of Haj pilgrims for discounted hotel prices. Local Madinah businessmen consider this influx as a bonus after making large Haj profits. Area hotels are still enjoying room occupancy rates of at least 80 percent, say their owners.
Arab News caught up with a family from Jeddah that came to spend the Eid vacation in Madinah. Abdul Razzak Saleh said that it has become ritual to spend Eid vacation in Madinah.
“I hit three birds with one stone: I visit the holy mosque, take advantage of the nice cold weather in Madinah and enjoy the huge discounts in hotel prices that sometimes reach 50 percent,” said Saleh.
Jeddah resident Amer Ahmad said this is the fourth visit with his family to Madinah during Eid to pray at the Prophet’s Mosques and visit friends.
“Madinah is beautiful at this time of year, especially in the last days before pilgrims start leaving to Makkah,” said Ahmad. “I see all my friends here as if I was in Jeddah. I notice many visitors from Gulf countries and different parts of the Kingdom come to Madinah. This is a good time to get away from Jeddah, especially since Jeddah in the past few weeks was full of pilgrims and a lot of traffic.”
Businessmen in Madinah had their share of profit from a very good season. Faisal Eshfaqa from Mahmoudeya supermarket in Madinah said that business had been good. Haj season is one of the best, along with Ramadan and Eid. He said that all employees were called into work.
“The business has been good,” he said. “At first we were benefiting from the pilgrims and now we have the seasonal pilgrims, which is the name we give to visitors at this time of year.
“This period of time is good for us to take a rest and get ready for more pilgrims arriving to Madinah after Haj. The first pilgrims began arriving in Madinah weeks before Haj and the second stage pilgrims will arrive and stay in Madinah for months before they go back home.”
