Shaalan: We received 54 complaints from pilgrims and companies; reports were filed and submitted to the Tawafa Establishment
Mutawwifs' service shortfalls in Mina and overcrowding in camps top the complaints
Latest mission reports: 17 deaths, 3 in hospital and 4 missing
By Akram Medhat
Mohamed Shaalan, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and head of the mission, said the dispatching of pilgrims is still under way following the completion of the rituals, ahead of their return to Cairo via the airports of Jeddah and Medina or the Aqaba land port, according to their travel programs. The mission in Saudi Arabia continues to follow up on the pilgrims' return after performing the rituals through its committees in Mecca and Medina and at air and land departure points.
Shaalan noted that the number of tourism company pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia stands at 35,697, and that there have been 17 natural deaths, for which all necessary procedures have been taken, and 3 sick cases in hospital being followed up in coordination with the medical mission, in addition to 4 missing cases. The Interior Ministry's executive mission and the official mission of the Arab Republic of Egypt have been notified of the missing cases in order to take the necessary security measures with the Saudi authorities.
Shaalan explained that the number of complaints received by the mission from August 20 until today reached 54, for which incident reports were drawn up, and that 43 tourism companies were the subject of complaints. The causes of 17 complaints were resolved through immediate contact with the companies, while the remaining complaints are still under review and investigation so that the necessary measures can be taken against companies found to be in violation. He added that a follow-up report is submitted daily to the Minister of Tourism.
He went on: "Complaints submitted by tourism companies to the mission are being tallied regarding the failure of some mutawwifs to provide the services agreed with them at the camps in Mina, in addition to complaints about the overcrowding of pilgrims in some tents due to the increase in numbers this year. Reports have been filed on these complaints and submitted to the National Tawafa Establishment."
Shaalan revealed that about 8,500 tourism pilgrims are scheduled to return to Cairo starting yesterday, Monday, with the departure of the first tourism Hajj flights from the Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, and until tomorrow, Wednesday, which will see the start of the return of overland Hajj trips from the port of Aqaba.
The head of the mission said that about 27,500 pilgrims began heading to Medina yesterday to visit the Prophet's Mosque before returning to Cairo, with the last tourism pilgrims due to leave Saudi Arabia on September 25.
Notably, Minister of Tourism Yehia Rashed contacted the tourism Hajj mission to check on the condition of Egyptian pilgrims in general, and tourism pilgrims in particular, after a fire broke out in a warehouse in an area adjacent to the holy site of Mina, causing panic among pilgrims' families in Egypt. Official data showed that the fire broke out in a building used to store furniture in the Al-Muaisim area, away from the camps in Mina, and that Saudi Civil Defense forces managed to put it out without any injuries or deaths.
The head of the tourism Hajj mission affirmed that all pilgrims are well and that none of them were injured, noting that most tourism pilgrims, especially those who opted to leave early, have left the Mina camps and returned to Mecca.
In a related context, the first flights of the air bridge operated by EgyptAir to bring pilgrims back home after performing Hajj will take off tomorrow, Wednesday, at 8 a.m. The air bridge is expected to carry more than 70,000 pilgrims on 320 flights from Jeddah and Medina airports by the end of the return phase on September 22 and 25 from Jeddah and Medina, respectively.
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EgyptAir Begins Pilgrims' Return Flights from Jeddah and Medina on Wednesday and Friday
