Preparations for various hospitality facilities for this year’s Haj season are nearing completion in the regions of Makkah and Madinah.

The decision of the Ministry of Haj to reduce number of inbound pilgrims by 50 percent will have direct impact on the performance of hotels and furnished apartments and hence will create fierce competition to provide the highest levels of comfort and the best services to the pilgrims to attract as many guests as possible for the current season.

Mohamad Haj Hassan, area VP Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sudan and Saudi Arabia of Rotana, stated that the hotel industry in the Kingdom is the largest in the Arab world due to the country's geographical position and the prosperous economic growth.

He added: "We are approaching a blessed time of the year and are well aware of the size of the competition in the local hospitality market. However, we, at Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana, are confident of our ability to attract guests who are looking for the finest hotel services and maximum levels of comfort during their stay in Makkah."

Hassan also pointed out that the decision to reduce the number of pilgrims is only for a specified period, and will expire by the end of the expansion projects currently being implemented under the government's long-term strategy to resolve overcrowding in the Mattaf area.

“The hope and optimism we carry is based on the fact that the capacity of the Holy Mosque will double in the coming years, which means more pilgrims. That alone is a positive indication that the hospitality industry will see greater prosperity upon the completion of these projects.”

The value of investments in the Kingdom’s hospitality sector is expected to exceed SR33.5 billion during the next six years, according to reports.