Tourism minister directs swift completion of arrangements for the return of overland tourism Hajj pilgrims from the holy lands
Coordination stepped up with Saudi and Jordanian authorities and the relevant bodies in Egypt to facilitate departure procedures for buses carrying pilgrims
As the Egyptian tourism Hajj season for 1446 AH draws to a close, and out of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' keenness to ensure the safe and secure return of all Egyptian tourism Hajj pilgrims, particularly those on overland Hajj trips, in light of developments in the regional situation, Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, directed the official tourism Hajj mission currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to swiftly complete arrangements for the return of overland tourism Hajj pilgrims from the holy lands to Egypt and to take all necessary measures to urge the organizing tourism companies to speed up their return.
Fathy stressed the importance of the mission's sub-committees intensifying full coordination with the Saudi and Jordanian authorities and the relevant bodies in Egypt to facilitate the movement of buses carrying the pilgrims and ease departure procedures at the Halat Ammar crossing on the Saudi-Jordanian border, and the crossing to the port of Aqaba in Jordan, until they arrive at the port of Nuweiba in Egypt.
He stressed that the return phase for tourism pilgrims should be completed with the same efficiency that characterized the outbound phase to the holy lands, pointing out that the success of the tourism Hajj season is measured not only by the organization of travel and the services provided to pilgrims, but also by ensuring their safe, fast and comfortable return.
For her part, Samia Samy, Assistant Minister for Tourism Companies and Head of the Official Tourism Hajj Mission, affirmed that the mission has formed a central emergency operations room working around the clock to follow the movement of buses from their departure from the holy lands until their arrival in the homeland, and to intervene immediately to resolve any obstacles in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
She noted that the return trips of overland tourism pilgrims, which began on June 11, are proceeding smoothly, stating that 127 buses carrying about 4,800 tourism pilgrims have left Saudi territory so far, including 108 buses carrying 4,100 pilgrims that have arrived in the homeland, equivalent to about 55% of the total of 7,500 overland tourism pilgrims this season.
The remaining 53 buses are scheduled to return from the holy lands over the next few days, successfully and safely concluding the return of all overland tourism pilgrims for the 1446 AH Hajj season.
