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Umrah bookings increase as H1N1 fears fade and hotel rates plunge <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=407 border=0><TBODY><TR style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #555555; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><TD>
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VM Sathish on Thursday, February 11, 2010<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> try{ if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Firefox")!=-1) { //firefox document.getElementById("date").textContent = doDateWithParam(document.getElementById("date").textContent); } else { //ie document.getElementById("date").innerText = doDateWithParam(document.getElementById("date").innerText); } } catch(ex){} </SCRIPT>
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The number of pilgrims booking trips to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina has increased dramatically, say Umrah contractors and travel agents in the UAE.
The rise comes as fears over swine flu fade and hotel rates fall. Airlines are also seeing an increase in the number of pilgrims making bookings.
Last year, Umrah operators reported that many pilgrims were cancelling trips because of swine flu and the financial crisis.
Iran has temporarily stopped its citizens from performing the Haj and Umrah, and hotel rates are likely to remain low as a result. The rates had previously shot up. The agents said Iranians in the UAE were buying Umrah packages despite the ban.
"There is now a rush to perform Umrah because many pilgrims who postponed their Haj pilgrimage due to fears about the H1N1 virus have started going to Saudi Arabia," said MP Abdul Karim, General Manager of Al Ghaith Al Moosa Travel Agency, the sales agent for Saudi Arabian Airlines.
"The Saudi airline has introduced several extra flights to meet demand from Umrah pilgrims. Last month we had good bookings."
He said a number of families who were visiting the UAE for the Dubai Shopping Festival were going on to perform Umrah before returning home directly from Saudi Arabia.
"The additional cost is only Dh300 to Dh400 for the transit visa," added Karim. "The transit Umrah programme that Saudi Arabian Airlines introduced in conjunction with the kingdom's Ministry of Awqaf allows any Muslim travelling with the carrier via Jeddah or Madina to break their journey to visit the holy cities en route to their home country without any extra cost for the stopover."
Read more at:
http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles...2112010_689728b78d274e9898f10d940cce1177.aspx
By <!--old author field-->
VM Sathish on Thursday, February 11, 2010<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> try{ if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Firefox")!=-1) { //firefox document.getElementById("date").textContent = doDateWithParam(document.getElementById("date").textContent); } else { //ie document.getElementById("date").innerText = doDateWithParam(document.getElementById("date").innerText); } } catch(ex){} </SCRIPT>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The number of pilgrims booking trips to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina has increased dramatically, say Umrah contractors and travel agents in the UAE.
The rise comes as fears over swine flu fade and hotel rates fall. Airlines are also seeing an increase in the number of pilgrims making bookings.
Last year, Umrah operators reported that many pilgrims were cancelling trips because of swine flu and the financial crisis.
Iran has temporarily stopped its citizens from performing the Haj and Umrah, and hotel rates are likely to remain low as a result. The rates had previously shot up. The agents said Iranians in the UAE were buying Umrah packages despite the ban.
"There is now a rush to perform Umrah because many pilgrims who postponed their Haj pilgrimage due to fears about the H1N1 virus have started going to Saudi Arabia," said MP Abdul Karim, General Manager of Al Ghaith Al Moosa Travel Agency, the sales agent for Saudi Arabian Airlines.
"The Saudi airline has introduced several extra flights to meet demand from Umrah pilgrims. Last month we had good bookings."
He said a number of families who were visiting the UAE for the Dubai Shopping Festival were going on to perform Umrah before returning home directly from Saudi Arabia.
"The additional cost is only Dh300 to Dh400 for the transit visa," added Karim. "The transit Umrah programme that Saudi Arabian Airlines introduced in conjunction with the kingdom's Ministry of Awqaf allows any Muslim travelling with the carrier via Jeddah or Madina to break their journey to visit the holy cities en route to their home country without any extra cost for the stopover."
Read more at:
http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles...2112010_689728b78d274e9898f10d940cce1177.aspx