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Egyptian companies suspend Umrah travel due to rise in visa fees

October 14, 2016 at 11:20 am

Egyptian travel agencies stopped organising Hajj and Umrah trips following a Saudi decision to increase visa fees.

 Egyptian travel agencies have objected to Saudi Arabia’s decision of raising the visa fee to 2,000 riyals ($533) for any pilgrim travelling to the kingdom to perform the Hajj and Umrah religious rites for the second time.

 The decision, which came into affect on 2 October, was approved by ministers in August. 

 According to the new resolution, the value of the single entry visa is 2,000 riyals ($533); however, the kingdom would bear this fee for new pilgrims who are travelling to perform Hajj or Umrah for the first time.

 The Chairman of the Religious Tourism Committee at the Egyptian Travel Agents’ Association (ETAA) Sherif Saeed said that the tourism companies didn’t agree to any contracts with their Saudi partners as a result of the fee hike. 

 He pointed out that the Saudi authorities have delayed the issuance of Umrah visas for all counties for a month until contracts are documented.

 Saeed also pointed out that the ETAA is in contact with the Saudi authorities to discuss the decision and its implications on pilgrims travelling to perform Umrah.

 Some 1.3 million Egyptians performed Umrah last year, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.

 A member of the General Assembly at the ETAA, Sabry Abou Zeid, described the new fees as unrealistic.

 In a statement, he said the decision would dramatically reduce the number of pilgrims.

 He pointed out that the Umrah visa fees was 250 riyals ($66).