JEDDAH: Companies organizing domestic Haj tours should charge reasonable rates for their services, according to the guidelines issued by the General Administration for Domestic Pilgrims in the Haj Ministry on Thursday.
They state that any domestic service company should submit details about pilgrims in its care before passing through any checkpoint into Makkah. The details should include pilgrims’ names, Haj permit numbers and details of the vehicles in which they are traveling.
The vehicles should be insured using an approved company and follow instructions regarding their arrival and parking location. Each bus should have a guide who is familiar with the holy sites and other locations.
The guidelines also said all relevant companies should supply details of its workers in advance.
Staff should be trained, uniformed and carry name cards. Companies will only be allowed to use a limited number of wireless devices in tents, which should also not show television channels.
Pilgrims will need to be supplied with plastic bracelets showing details such as their name and address of the company and contact numbers.
Companies should also follow the time scheme for taking pilgrims to Jamarat Bridge and make sure they are vaccinated, the guidelines said. They also give the criteria for allocating tents to domestic companies in Mina.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Department has started implementing new traffic regulations aimed at guaranteeing a steady flow of vehicles on roads in Makkah, director of Traffic in Makkah, Col. Ahmad Al-Otaibi said on Thursday.
He said 758 new officers have been deployed, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The traffic plan will be implemented in four phases. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter the central zone around the Grand Mosque half an hour before and after each prayer until Nov. 20. This will increase to one hour between Nov. 21 and 24, before reverting back to 30 minutes between Nov. 25 and 26.
In the fourth phase beginning on Nov. 27 and ending on Dec. 8, vehicles will not be allowed in the area one hour before and after each prayer.
“The new arrangement aims to offer maximum safety to pedestrians going to and returning from the Grand Mosque, Al-Otaibi said.
Vehicles carrying less than 25 passengers will not be allowed in Makkah and holy sites during the Haj. No vehicles will be permitted to park except for brief stops on streets in the central zone and streets surrounding the Grand Mosques.
