Mohammed Al-Mokhtar Al-Fal Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Directives have been issued to reduce the number of external pilgrims by 20 percent and those from within the Kingdom by 50 percent starting this Haj season. According to informed sources, the departments are currently working out modalities for the implementation of the directives. The sources said the reduction in the number of local and foreign pilgrims was necessitated by the giant development projects currently being undertaken in the Grand Mosque and the Holy Sites. They said these projects were aimed at enabling the pilgrims and visitors to complete their Haj and Umrah rites in ease. Haj Minister Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar denied that the number of visas granted to Umrah companies were reduced this year but said the number has been distributed to cover the whole year. “The companies should use the visas granted to them on time and should not hold them to be used in one month,” he said. The minister said that under the new arrangements the visas will be granted on a monthly basis so the companies should use them the same month. “If the visas are not used during the same month, they will be canceled,” he warned. The minister said he has noted that Umrah companies kept the visas granted to them for the months of Rajab and Sha'aban for use in the month of Ramadan. “This practice will disrupt the ministry's plans and the system of visa issuance which is tied to the provision of accommodation, transportation and other services,” he said. A number of hotels and Umrah companies have complained that the new arrangements will not enable them to make long-range plans because they will be obliged to use the visas for the same month. They said the arrangements will not satisfy their needs or help them make early contracts. “We will not be able to make our programs for the season if we are not able to know earlier the number of visas that will be granted,” they said.
