Ehab Abdel Aal: 80% expected to be allocated to economy Hajj and 20% to luxury Hajj, with no major increase in program prices
Early Hajj registration this year raises organizational efficiency and curbs the chaos caused by brokers
Ehab Abdel Aal, Treasurer of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, said the tourism sector is awaiting the meeting of the Supreme Hajj Committee at the Cabinet to determine the number of visas allocated to tourism programs for the new season, stressing that the regulations governing the Hajj season are expected to be issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the coming days.
Abdel Aal explained that there is speculation about allocating 80% of visas to economy Hajj and 20% to luxury Hajj, with expectations of no major changes in prices compared with last season, especially since the Saudi riyal exchange rate has not seen any movement.
Ehab Abdel Aal added that opening Hajj registration early this year is a positive step that will directly reflect on the quality of organization, as it gives tourism companies more time to arrange their programs and contract with the Saudi companies providing services at the holy sites, and allows the relevant authorities in Egypt and Saudi Arabia to coordinate schedules early and avoid any pressure or congestion in timings. He noted that it will also help reduce opportunities for brokers to intervene and give pilgrims a better chance to choose the program that suits them best, away from any time pressure.
Abdel Aal stressed that tourism companies succeeded in organizing last Hajj season at a rate exceeding 95% without serious violations, explaining that some minor shortcomings that occurred at Mina were the result of delays by some companies in paying for the packages, which led to adjustments of spaces and cramped accommodation, before the crisis was quickly resolved through the intervention of Al Rajhi Company and the Egyptian Tourism Mission.
Abdel Aal pointed out that the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies and Agencies strongly confronted the phenomenon of brokers during last season, as the licenses of 3 companies were revoked and official complaints were filed against unlicensed entities in cooperation with the Public Funds Investigations Department, in compliance with the Saudi plan aimed at preventing unauthorized entry and regulating services at the holy sites.
He noted that the development works at Mina announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will bring about a qualitative leap by 2030, as the area will see major expansions that will completely end the space crisis and entirely transform the site.
