JEDDAH: Umrah service providers in Saudi Arabia are fearing heavy losses because of Iran’s decision not to send any pilgrims.
Iran’s Sazman-e-Haj (Haj and Pilgrimage Organization) has told the company Al-Hussam, which is one of the major groups providing services to Iranians, that no one from the country would be performing Umrah until further notice.
According to Taha Marikar, who is the company’s director of sales and marketing, if Iranians fail to turn up hotels and transport companies in Makkah and Madinah are facing millions of riyals in losses.
Last year, 3.7 million Umrah pilgrims arrived from all over the world. Iran accounted for 866,147 of these, almost a quarter of the total.
According to Fayyaz Siddiqi, chief operating officer of Hajeej Travel, Umrah service providers earn an average of SR750 ($200) from each pilgrim for providing visa services, accommodation and transportation after arrival.
If last year’s figure of Iranian arrivals are taken into consideration, hotels and related businesses in Makkah and Madinah could suffer a loss of up to SR700 million if none of them perform Umrah this year.
Umrah operators say Iran’s no-show was evident even before the news broke from Tehran. Sazman-e-Haj said Iran has “suspended but not halted” sending Umrah pilgrims. According to the report, Iranians will be able to perform Umrah only after talks with the Saudi government over religious issues.
Marikar said Iranians are among the first ones to arrive when the Umrah season starts in the middle of Safar each year. They book their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah three months in advance.
But this year there were no inquiries from them, raising concerns within the industry. Marikar said even if Iran relents it would take at least one month before pilgrims can start arriving because IranAir lacks sufficient aircraft.
It would have to charter them — a time consuming process say travel executives.
Siddiqi said the absence of Iranian pilgrims would make accommodation in Makkah and Madinah cheaper. Pilgrims from other countries are likely to fill the gap but it was unlikely to offset the losses the Umrah industry are likely to face.
