By Akram Medhat
The Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah met to discuss the means and measures needed to ensure that no tourism company postpones the processing of citizens' visas allocated for the first Umrah period of the 1440 AH season, which amounts to 80% of each company's quota and ends at the end of the month of Sha'ban, in order to use them during the month of Ramadan.
It was agreed to take a number of precautionary measures, including a review by the Companies Sector at the Ministry of Tourism of the Umrah visas processed during the past period through the end of the current month of Rajab, and a study of each company's processing rate, to ensure that no numbers from the visa quota are carried over to Ramadan. Companies that have processed small numbers of their allocated quota during the past period will also be reviewed to explain the reasons for that.
This comes as part of the Ministry of Tourism's keenness to ensure an orderly Umrah season for 1440 AH/2019 AD, protect citizens' interests and prevent companies from violating the regulations governing Umrah programs.
The Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah said that as of the end of the current month of Rajab, it will draw up a list of companies submitting numbers of Sha'ban Umrah pilgrims for review that are inconsistent with the normal rate of their volume of business, to affirm their responsibility for the travel and return of these pilgrims and ensure that those numbers, and therefore the quota, are not carried over to Ramadan. This is a precautionary measure so that the company is not exposed to the penalty set out in the regulations approved for this season, which can go as far as cancellation of the license. Airlines will also be reviewed regarding the travel and return of the pilgrims.
These tourism companies will also be required to open the website on which the dates of entry into and exit from Saudi territory of these groups are recorded, and match them against the approved dates of these programs. If a violation appears, the penalty will be applied immediately.
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