By Akram Medhat, journalist at Travel Yalla
The 17th International Forum for Arab Tourism and Umrah, held on October 22 and 23, saw a large turnout of participants, whether Saudi agents and hotels or Egyptian companies, in addition to large crowds of the public flocking to the forum's venue. But does it have any real value in setting the indicators for the coming Umrah season of 1437 AH, which begins with the Prophet's Birthday Umrah, bearing in mind that it does not in any way actually address intra-Arab tourism and focuses only on sacred religious tourism, "Umrah"?
The views of participating companies from both the Egyptian and Saudi sides agreed that it is a forum for getting acquainted and meeting customers, while some pointed out that its events were not organized at a level befitting an international event.
Travel Yalla's lens captured a number of shortcomings at the forum this year, most notably poor organization, as the expansion and increase in exhibitors' stands came at the expense of ease of movement, owing to narrow aisles in the exhibition halls, to the point that walking in two directions was not possible. In addition, the first day was not reserved for tourism companies only, as the organizing company had indicated. Were this number and this large turnout really tourism company owners?! Instead, anyone holding an invitation got in, whatever their profession, which opens the door for brokers to do business with Egyptian companies or obtain offers from Saudi agents, and the Umrah pilgrim ends up the victim.
Tourism Officials' Attendance Register
More importantly, Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou did not attend, as he traveled to Aswan to witness the sun aligning with the face of Ramses at Abu Simbel Temple. As a result, the press conference held every year to discuss the past Umrah season and expectations for the next one, or to review the development of Arab tourism to Egypt, did not take place. He delegated Sami Mahmoud, chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, to open the forum, amid a lack of tourism media coverage of the event compared with previous years. The question is: what does the head of the authority have to do with the Umrah season?! It would have been more appropriate for the head of the ministry's Tourism Companies Sector, whose responsibilities include overseeing the Hajj and Umrah file, to attend.
Moreover, representatives of the Religious Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Tourism Companies did not attend, as they do not recognize the forum's usefulness, according to statements by the committee's head, Basel El-Sisi, to Travel Yalla. He affirmed that the forum is merely a friendly meeting for getting acquainted, and that it opens the way for brokers to contact companies and Saudi agents at this huge gathering.
A Forum of Friendliness, Networking and Brokers
Adel Shaaban, a member of the general assembly of the Chamber of Tourism Companies, agreed with him that the forum is a market for brokers who crowd out licensed tourism companies in their business, with the Egyptian Umrah pilgrim paying the bill in the end. He added that entry and invitations on the first day should be limited to professional tourism company owners only, with the second day for the public, as happens at international exhibitions around the world.
On the other hand, some exhibitors, having borne the costs of taking part in the exhibition, had nothing but praise for the turnout. Ehab Abdel-Aal, head of Bloomon Tours, said the forum is good and there is something new, especially since this year entry was limited to professionals representing tourism companies, and those known as "promoters", or "brokers", were not allowed in, because they cause confusion. This helps the exhibition's evaluation and strength through an increase in the number of people actually working in the sector.
Mohamed Al-Zaidi, CEO of the Saudi company Hamad Al-Zaidi for Umrah Services, which is taking part in the exhibition for the sixth year, said there is something new at the forum every year, and it is a good idea for Egyptian agents and Saudi companies to help organize the Umrah market.
In a related context, Ashraf Saleh, regional general manager in Egypt of the Saudi company Dar Al Eiman, considered the forum a good opportunity to renew relations, meet Egyptian tourism companies, introduce hotels in Mecca and Medina, and engage with customers.
For his part, Osama Hassan, branch management director at Al Mahmoud Tourism, pointed to the exhibition's usefulness, with the increase in the number of participating Saudi agents opening the way for direct contact with them and getting to know their capabilities.
Expansion at the Expense of Organization
On the other hand, Atef Abdel-Fattah, general manager of New Sky, representative in Egypt of the Saudi company Al Fawzan for Umrah Services, explained that the forum's problem this year is organization and the public's lack of discipline in moving around, even though the companies' pavilions are larger and better located. This expansion came at the expense of ease of movement for visitors, he said, noting the inability to restrict entry to companies only, which led to heavy crowding and harder movement.
