Discussions on launching a joint awareness campaign targeting Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims
In implementation of the recommendations issued by the meetings held a few days ago in Egypt between Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, the first meetings of the joint coordination committee between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah began at the headquarters of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Jeddah.
These meetings aim to activate further coordination between the two sides to further develop the Umrah and tourism Hajj system and raise the quality of services provided to Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims, helping provide an organized and safe experience befitting the Guests of Al-Rahman.
Samia Samy, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Travel Companies Affairs, held a meeting with Dr. Hassan Al-Manakhra, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for International Cooperation, during which extensive discussions took place on setting the main lines for launching a joint awareness campaign between the two ministries targeting Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims. The campaign is to be extended and continuous and to precede the pilgrims' arrival in the holy land, helping raise knowledge of procedures, strengthen compliance with guidelines and support a smoother and more reassuring spiritual experience from the pre-travel stage until the return home.
The meeting was attended on the Saudi side by Eng. Anas Al-Hamid, Assistant Undersecretary for Communication at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Youssef Al-Harthi, Deputy Director General of Hajj Affairs Offices, and a number of Ministry of Hajj and Umrah officials. On the Egyptian side, it was attended by Eng. Mohamed Reda, Director General of the General Department of Religious Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and a number of members of the technical office of the Assistant Minister for Travel Companies Affairs.
The two sides agreed that the campaign will be based on an integrated awareness methodology that turns the organizational guidelines issued by the two ministries into simplified messages targeting all segments, while using the channels with the widest reach and greatest influence among Umrah pilgrims, including digital platforms and all media outlets, to ensure awareness messages reach Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims before and during their journey.
The discussions also addressed the campaign's initial outlines, covering guidance and best practices inside the Two Holy Mosques and during the dispatch of Umrah and Hajj pilgrims at airports to enhance smoothness and organization, as well as strengthening preventive safety protocols to preserve the safety and comfort of Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims, along with awareness of the requirements and procedures related to the journey, ensuring a distinguished spiritual experience.
The Saudi side praised the level of commitment of Egyptian travel companies organizing Umrah and tourism Hajj programs to the guidelines and instructions issued by the competent Saudi authorities, stressing that this commitment reflects organizational awareness and positive cooperation that helps make the Umrah and Hajj system a success and achieve the highest levels of service for the Guests of Al-Rahman.
The two sides also agreed to activate a round-the-clock joint coordination mechanism throughout the season, through direct communication channels between the relevant bodies, ensuring rapid exchange of information, immediate handling of any developments and quick response to any field observations, to ensure services continue to be provided with the highest efficiency and to provide the utmost comfort and reassurance for Egyptian Umrah and tourism Hajj pilgrims.
