MAKKAH: Saudi companies providing service to Haj and Umrah pilgrims said they suffered financial losses worth about SR70 million this year as a result of a quota system introduced by the Haj Ministry in issuing Haj and Umrah visas.
The Haj Ministry denies the allegation.
“The ministry has not fixed any numbers for the issuance of visas but considers the capacity of Saudi embassies and consulates in issuing them,” Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy said.
Saad Al-Qurashi, vice chairman of the Haj Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Umrah service companies incurred heavy losses this year as a result of making hotel reservations for a large number of pilgrims.
He said the ministry introduced the quota system considering the capacity of Saudi missions abroad. However, he pointed out that there was a 16 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims compared to last year.
Al-Qurashi also spoke about a lack of coordination between the Umrah companies and the ministry and the problem of pilgrims overstaying their Umrah visas.
Khaled Al-Howaidi, vice chairman of the Haj Committee at the Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said as many as 200 firms from a total of 250 licensed Umrah companies had withdrawn from the market.
