Hoteliers were expecting large numbers of pilgrims, especially during Rajab and Shaaban, which this year have coincided with the summer vacation, but numbers have not been as high as they had wished. Even domestic pilgrims have not come in expected numbers.
Walid Abu Saba, head of the Tourism and Hotel Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, blamed the low numbers on the unusually high temperature in Makkah that has put many people off from visiting the Kingdom.
Another reason, according to Abu Saba, has been the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Haj on the number of foreign pilgrims during the months of Rajab, Shaaban and Ramadan to avoid crowding.
Sunday was the last day for the issuance of Umrah visas for this year. Abu Saba said hotel owners expect 65 percent occupancy rate by foreign pilgrims during Ramadan with the rest to be filled by “the local market.”
Representatives of hotel owners in Makkah last month met government officials and apprised them of the situation. Abu Saba said the number of visas assigned to each country for each month should be increased, adding that there is demand for more visas and that foreign tour operators are unable to send pilgrims because of the restrictions.
He also cited the example of Egypt, which sends a large number of pilgrims each year. Up to 300,000 Umrah pilgrims came from Egypt last Ramadan. But this year, Egypt’s share was restricted to 170,000.
“I have heard that 30,000 more visas have been allocated to Egypt. It’s a welcome step,” he said, adding it may be the result of the meeting that hoteliers had with government officials.
