Saudi Gazette report 05-03-2018
JEDDAH — The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has categorically
refuted social media rumors that it will impose fees on domestic Umrah
pilgrims, Al-Madina Arabic newspaper reported on Monday.
Social media was agog with rumors that the ministry will
be collecting a fee of SR400 to SR700 from domestic Umrah pilgrims who are
above 18 years of age.
The rumors also stated that the ministry will set up
offices to collect fees at airports and entry points to Makkah.
The justification given in social media rumors was that
the ministry had taken this measure to reduce the number of pilgrims in view of
the ongoing construction work in Makkah.
The ministry refuted the rumors and released a statement
clarifying that it plans to expand the accommodation capacity of pilgrims from
the current 8 million to 15 million by 2020 and 30 million by 2030.
It will also work on facilitating the pilgrimage visa
process and digitalizing more of its services.
The ministry will be working to achieve five goals in
light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The goals include strategizing and
planning, ensuring the quality of services, raising the qualifications of
employees, improving the cooperation between various government agencies,
initiatives to implement the ministry’s goals and supporting other initiatives
that promote these goals.
The ministry identified a number of challenges in its
way, which include low awareness about the role of the ministry in the pilgrimage
process, unqualified employees in pilgrimage campaigns, lack of efficient
cooperation between the private and public sectors in organizing pilgrimage
campaigns.
Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/529802/SAUDI-ARABIA/No-fee-on-domestic-Umrah-pilgrims