Chairman of the Chamber of Religious Tourism Basel al-Sisi says a disaster is threatening the Hajj and Umra seasons this year in Ramadan and Shaaban months as 25 percent of pilgrims who booked for flights could be deprived of the pilgrimage.
The Saudi authorities suspended the work of seven tourism companies that coordinate with over 245 Egyptian companies to organize pilgrimages which means that the Egyptian companies would not be able to implement its pilgrimage programs, Sisi said.
He added Shaaban and Ramadan are the peak season, pointing out that the Saudi authorities suspended the Saudi companies over irregularities.
The chamber has asked the Tourism Ministry to address Saudi authorities and find solutions to the crisis, especially since the Egyptian companies had already received money from pilgrims.
He explained that the loss of Egyptian companies would be great if the booking was canceled.
Sisi added he headed to the Tourism Ministry yesterday to hold a meeting with ministry officials to discuss the crisis.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
