In a development in Hajj procedures, tourism companies have begun receiving applications from citizens wishing to perform Hajj for the 1447 AH season. This comes in line with the Saudi and Egyptian regulations governing Hajj, and in implementation of the proposals reached by the Religious Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies and Agencies during its meetings with companies in the past period to discuss the most important ideas and proposals for the new Hajj season. During those meetings, it was agreed to quickly begin registering citizens wishing to perform tourism Hajj, in line with the new developments in Hajj implementation procedures.
The chamber urged all citizens wishing to perform tourism Hajj this year to apply quickly to tourism companies, bearing in mind that Hajj procedures started early this year and will also end early. The chamber urged citizens to apply directly to tourism companies and their branches across the country and to avoid middlemen and brokers, to guarantee citizens' rights and ensure their safety.
It was decided to open registration for citizens wishing to join tourism Hajj programs at tourism companies until the end of this September, as the application window for tourism Hajj is expected to close at the end of September in accordance with the procedures governing Hajj. This will take place in parallel with the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Chamber of Companies and the ministry's Supreme Committee for Hajj and Umrah to set the tourism Hajj regulations, which will include all the procedures and mechanisms governing Hajj.
The chamber's Religious Tourism Committee prepared a comprehensive report on all the proposals and discussions held during its meetings with tourism companies, which was submitted to the Central Administration of Companies at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and to the Supreme Committee for Hajj and Umrah in preparation for finalizing the Hajj regulations, which will be submitted to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities ahead of their approval.
The discussions identified the most important drawbacks of last Hajj season, mechanisms to avoid them and alternatives to them, as well as the most important positives in order to build on them, in addition to discussing the viewpoints of company owners and their opinions on what is required and expected in the new season's regulations, in a way that ensures its success and protects the rights of pilgrims and tourism companies.
Tourism companies unanimously agreed on the need to confront the work of brokers, middlemen and illegitimate entities organizing Hajj and Umrah trips in violation of the law, and to strike with an iron fist against this dangerous phenomenon, which causes great harm to citizens and companies alike, wastes the rights of citizens performing Hajj and Umrah and endangers their safety.
