JEDDAH: Contrary to the general perception, government data show that 2009 saw an increase in Umrah pilgrims from the year before. The figures also reveal that the losses that Umrah operators and hotels in Makkah and Madinah reported last year were for reasons not related to there being few pilgrims.
Government data show that 3,384,926 Umrah pilgrims came to the Kingdom last year against 3,107,318 in 2008, indicating an 8.93 percent increase in pilgrims.
Umrah operators, e-service providers and hotel owners now expect the situation to improve with more pilgrims arriving in 2010.
According to Saud Al-Sulemani, customer relations manager at Bab Al-Umrah, one of the five e-service providers for Umrah operators in Saudi Arabia, 2010 will witness even more arrivals as the fear of swine flu, which discouraged many from undertaking the journey of faith, in reality did not affect those who traveled to the Kingdom.
“This will give confidence to Muslims around the world this year. Besides, the global economic crisis, which was another reason discouraging foreign travelers, is showing signs of improvement,” he said.
Iranians came in big numbers last year. According to government figures, 866,147 pilgrims came from Iran, a 36.29 percent increase from the year before. But Egypt, the main earner for Umrah operators and hoteliers, sent 61,755 fewer pilgrims.
The arrival figure from Egypt was 563,871 in 2009 against 625,626 in 2008.
According to Al-Sulemani, fewer pilgrims from Egypt was the main reason for losses. There was a minor shortfall from India and Pakistan as well but its impact was not as big as that of Egypt. Others in the Umrah business confirmed Al-Sulemani’s claim.
Egyptians, said Al-Sulemani, come in small groups and even individually, something that gives hotels in Makkah and Madinah an opportunity to deal with them on their (the hotels’) own terms, whereas Iranians come in large groups and rent accommodation in bulk thus getting bargain prices.
Therefore, while Iranians raised the arrival figure in 2009, the increase did not benefit those in the business, said Al-Sulemani.
Hania Abu Saba, owner of Ramada and the local Al-Massa chain of hotels in Makkah and Madinah, said his business was reduced by 30 percent last year. Although his hotels were mostly booked, he had to give heavy discounts that affected revenue. The same story was repeated during Haj as he had to rent out rooms cheaper than 2008.
He also blamed fears of H1N1 and the economic recession for losses in the business. “There was panic in the market,” he said.
For this year, Abu Saba is trying to sell rooms in bulk to tour operators so that “we don’t have to face problems at the last moment.” Like others, he expects a better 2010.
If Fayyaz Siddiqi, chief operating officer of Hajeej Travel, is to be believed no one in the industry suffered losses last year. “It was basically a reduction in projected profit. You cannot call it loss,” he said.
According to him, the first four months of the Umrah season, which begins from the Safar 1 and lasts until Shaban 30, was very good. “We did better business than Ramadan,” said Siddiqi, whose company also runs a hotel in Makkah besides managing Umrah travels. He too sees better prospects for 2010.
