http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=128600&d=19&m=11&y=2009&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Thursday 19 November 2009 (02 Dhul Hijjah 1430)
70% drop in local pilgrims
Sultan Al-Tamimi | Arab News
JEDDAH: This year's Haj is to experience a sharp decline in the number of
Saudi and non-Saudi domestic pilgrims, said Saad Al-Qurashi, head of the Haj
and Umrah Commission at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"There will be 70 percent fewer domestic pilgrims this year compared to
last year," said Al-Qurashi. "As of today, around 68,000 Haj permits have been
issued to domestic pilgrims. That number includes expatriates and people who
come from neighboring GCC countries," he said.
Al-Qurashi added that 1.7 million Haj visas have also been issued to
foreign pilgrims.
The entire Haj and Umrah sector is currently seeing heavy financial
losses with experts estimating that losses are running into hundreds of
millions of Saudi riyals.
Many Haj groups have also been forced to drop prices to lure pilgrims.
The sharp decline is thought to be because of local people opting to
travel abroad during the Haj holidays and the fear of a potential H1N1 outbreak
in spite of the Saudi Ministry of Health assuring members of the public that
swine flu vaccines are available and safe.
The Kingdom also witnessed a decline in pilgrims last Ramadan. To attract
more pilgrims, the Passport Department - the body responsible for issuing Haj
permits - has extending the time for accepting applications from people wanting
to perform Haj, said Director General of the Passport Department Maj. Gen.
Salim bin Mohammed Al-Bulaihed.
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