Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — A total of 34 Saudis have been granted licenses to conduct organized tourist trips to historic sites in Makkah, an activity which is presently being carried out randomly by some foreigners and Saudis, according to the executive director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in the holy city. “This market has an annual turnover of more than SR200 million,” Abdullah Al-Sawwat said. The pilgrims and visitors will be taken to a number of historic locations, including Jabal Al-Noor, Ghar Hira Cave, Jabal Thour, the Kiswa Factory, Namirah Mosque and the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. He said the tour organizer will be committed to a tourist program approved by the SCTA and will be using a tourist guide to provide correct information to the tourists about all these places. Al-Sawwat recalled that a pre-Umrah tourist program was organized for pilgrims last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Haj and the Directorate General of Passports. “We will further expand this program during the coming Umrah season,” he added. Tens of mini-buses and sedan cars are parked daily outside the Grand Mosque to transport thousands of pilgrims of various nationalities to Jabal Al-Noor (the Mountain of Light) early morning till sunset. Abu Naif, a Saudi bus driver, said he has been transporting pilgrims from the Grand Mosque to the historic sites for more than 15 years. “I rent a mini-bus from one of the auto dealers to do this job, which brings me up to SR20,000 each season,” he said, adding that most of the times he was also playing the role of a tourist guide providing information to pilgrims about these historical places. “Some pilgrims are keen to write on the rocks while others are determined to take some stones from the Jabal Thour as souvenirs,” he said. Mohsen Hussain, an owner of a mini-bus, said his tourist trip starts early morning from the Grand Mosque. “I charge each pilgrim between SR10 and SR30 per a trip,” he said. Abu Radhi, another Saudi citizen, said he has been using his 9-seater to take pilgrims to historic places for more than 15 years. “Our work extends from early morning until close to Maghreb prayer. I charge pilgrims up to SR50 per person during the high seasons,” he said. A security man at one of the historic sites, who did not want to be identified, said some pilgrims erroneously believe that the rocks of the mountains in Makkah are blessed and will grant them children and wealth. “Some illegal residents gave them this false notion and charged them SR50 for a photo on the mountain,” he said.
