JEDDAH, 15 January — Yemeni authorities are currently investigating a travel and tourism agency in that country on charges of sending Umrah pilgrims to the Kingdom with forged documents. Each pilgrim was charged SR600 for being taken to the holy cities. They were also promised accommodation and return passage. The pilgrims were convinced that the agency was operating in a legal manner.
The 80 Yemenis, who were sent off in hired buses, were given papers with the logo of the agency and the address and telephone numbers of its main branch in Jeddah.
However, the pilgrims were transported only as far as Jeddah, from where they were told to make their own way to Makkah and Madinah. Although the pilgrims said their agreement was to take them to the holy cities, the bus drivers said their contract with the agency was only to take them to Jeddah.
The stranded pilgrims, who tried to contact the branch office of the travel agency in Jeddah at the number provided, then discovered that the telephone belonged to the head office of a limousine company. Finally they sought the help of the Yemeni consulate, which arranged the return of 20 pilgrims. The rest returned on their own.
The documents also advertised a mobile number belonging to a Saudi citizen who was not even aware that the Yemeni tourist agency existed. The Yemeni consulate has sent a report to its government demanding an immediate inquiry into the illegal activities of the travel agency.
