Tourism Companies Praise Exceptional Pilgrimage Programs

The Religious Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies held a significant meeting attended by several tourism companies that organized pilgrimage trips this year.

This meeting was convened to finalize a comprehensive report on this year’s pilgrimage season, which will be presented and discussed within the Board of Directors of the chamber, chaired by Dr. Nader El-Beblawi. The report will also be discussed with the Saudi hospitality company responsible for hosting this year’s pilgrimage tourists.

The meeting was attended by Ahmed Ibrahim, the committee chairman, along with all committee members and representatives from various tourism companies. They discussed several details and feedback from the companies. The attendees praised the organization of both land and economic pilgrimage programs, highlighting their exceptional services this year. They commended the committee’s efforts over the past year to support and facilitate the work of tourism companies in serving their pilgrims.

Five-Star Program Feedback

Regarding the five-star pilgrimage programs, some companies raised specific concerns during the meeting about Camp No. 102 designated for five-star services. Among these concerns were insufficient staff at the camp, particularly in Arafat, which led to issues with cleanliness at the site. Additionally, there were reports of delays in replenishing drinks and juices in certain areas of the camp.

Given the use of large air conditioning units in five-star camps and potential problems if they malfunction, it was agreed to implement a system ensuring that multiple air conditioning units are available within each camp. This way, if some units fail, others can compensate for them.

The committee chairman confirmed that a report would be prepared detailing all feedback from companies to discuss with the service provider to understand its causes and impact on pilgrims and companies while ensuring compliance with contractual obligations to protect pilgrims’ rights.

Commitment to Land and Economic Programs

The meeting also resolved to maintain excellence in land and economic pilgrimage programs. The committee promised to enhance services for these programs in upcoming seasons, especially considering the importance placed on them by both the chamber and the ministry due to their large citizen base.

For five-star services, an agreement was made to establish a system for contracting and providing services at camps that aligns with the unique nature of five-star pilgrimages.

Addressing Violations

In response to concerns about violations by some tourism companies at certain camps, it was agreed to investigate these matters. The chairman emphasized that appropriate penalties would be imposed according to regulations governing tourism companies involved in organizing pilgrimage trips and their associated laws against any proven violations affecting other tourism firms.

The chairman also announced plans for an electronic system to allocate spaces for pilgrims within tourism camps across all programs. This system will be fed with necessary information about tourism companies, their number of pilgrims, and organized programs, ensuring that allocations are made without human intervention.

Comprehensive Development Initiatives

Ahmed Ibrahim added that a broad development initiative will be implemented regarding religious tourism management within the chamber, including hiring additional staff to keep pace with expanding pilgrimage activities and meet company demands.

A continuous communication channel will be established between the committee and tourism companies throughout the year, enhancing cooperation during both peak pilgrimage seasons and preparatory phases. Members from the general assembly will also be engaged at each level of pilgrimage oversight to monitor compliance with contracts established with service providers while coordinating with the Religious Tourism Committee for any necessary adjustments identified by selected monitoring groups.