JEDDAH: A reported decline in air ticket prices during the Haj season draws 30 percent of external travel clients, observed sources in travel agencies.

As the outgoing flights decrease in number due to rush in the incoming Haj flights, the airline companies have lowered ticket prices, besides offering best services to their clients during the Haj period, according to a report published in Al-Madina.

The companies, they said, instead have offered a tourist package to those coming to the Kingdom for tourist purposes.

“Airline companies decreased the cost of tickets during the (Haj) season, and coordinated this with travel offices that provide marketing bundles for travelers in other countries,” said Mohammad Al-Mijil, the tourist committee chairman at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce.

He said the decreasing value of airline tickets contributes to increasing number of Saudi tourists to other countries, especially since the Haj season coincides with the holiday season.

Omar Al-Waqfi, director of sales at Turkish Airlines, said the majority of airline companies are decreasing their prices during the Haj season by 15 percent for flights going to the home country of the company, in comparison with the increased number of flights going to the Kingdom.

Ahmad Al-Zahrani, owner of a travel office, said travel offices offer marketing bundles for clients after companies decreased the price of their tickets, which contributed to the increase of the number of Saudi tourists wishing to travels outside the Kingdom by 20 to 30 percent.

Abdulaziz Al-Ghamidi, the owner of a travel office, said airline companies are decreasing prices by 15 to 30 percent during the Haj season, which contributes to the increasing offers of bundles to clients which leads to an increase in the volume of ticket sales, and increases the number of tourists.

He added that offices offer better services for clients by giving more offers and services, such as tourist programs for groups, receiving and sending off passengers to and from the airport, in addition to offering more services for first and business classes, reported Almadina.