The Minister of Hajj: We expect to issue 5 million Umrah visas this year
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – In his statement to Al-Jazeera Satellite T.V., Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar, the Minister of Hajj, announced that more than two million visas had been issued from the beginning of Safar till now, and that they expected that the number of visas that would be granted until the end of the Umrah season in mid-Ramadan would reach more than 5 millions.
Moreover, He is said that his ministry is presenting its new projects through its participation in Al-Jenadriyah festival this year, such as the e-path of Hajj which links the granting of the Hajj visas to the provision of service packs and the completion of the services offered to the pilgrims while they are still in their own countries, before they come to the Kingdom.
He added that this is for the convenience of the pilgrims and that this matter had been given a large display area at the exhibition this year. In addition to some other projects, there is one project that the Ministry of Hajj had submitted to His Royal Highness, who then approved it, which is the establishment of a service-integrated city to receive and bid farewell to the pilgrims in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah so as to include all government agencies and private sector bodies that provide services to pilgrims in one place.
He pointed out that those who work in the service of pilgrims in the ministry must not be allowed to work, whether they are working in government agencies or the private sector, until they partake in training courses. These training courses focus mainly on aspects of behavior and skills as well on the services for Hajj and `Umrah. Moreover, there are many different programs that are used to educate the staff and pilgrims..
Some of these are related to the ministry, and some are related to the Tawafa Establishments, the National Guides Establishment, Zamazemah United Office and other establishments that serve pilgrims. In addition, he added that they always pointed out to the offices of Hajj affairs abroad the need to train and educate the pilgrims before they come to Saudi Arabia.
The project of the King `Abdullah City for Pilgrims and Mu`tamirs aims at facilitating the provision of services and improving their quality so that all services offered to the pilgrims, whether by government agencies or the private sector, would be in one place to make it easier for the pilgrims to move from one place to another. Furthermore, in every project area there is a terminal for weighing the pilgrims’ baggage to make it easy for pilgrims to leave the airport without their luggage Also, all means of transportation, including the subway and buses, are available at the terminal. In addition, accommodation is provided for the staff, pilgrims and Mu`tamirs and there are also museums and galleries of Hajj and Umrah. The main reason for having them is to reduce congestion and overcrowding and to ease the pilgrims’ movement from one place to another.
Moreover, Khalid Al-Hudhali, the general manager of financial and administrative affairs in the Ministry of Hajj and the general supervisor of the site of the Ministry of Hajj in Al-Jenadriyah, said that the festival this year is different from other festivals due to its visitors friendly design. It is designed in the shape of a hive which makes it easy for visitors to move easily and smoothly in order to be able to see all the displays.
In addition, the festival uses advanced technologies, such as large displays to show documentaries that have been produced throughout the ages.
The exhibition also hosts cultural competitions for the public and prizes for the visitors that add up to at least 200 thousand gifts. It also displays a model of the King `Abdullah City for Pilgrims and Mu`tamirs.
