MAKKAH: There has been an unprecedented increase in the occupancy rates of hotels and residential apartments in Makkah this year thanks to the huge inflow of Umrah pilgrims.
Some hotels are fully booked for the peak Umrah season this year, according to an official.
"This tremendous increase was attributed mainly to the coincidence of the peak Umrah season with the annual summer vacation this year," said Waleed Abu Sabaa, chairman of the Committee for Hotels and Tourism at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The turbulent situation in some Arab countries forced many Saudi vacationers to cancel trips abroad.
This would also be a positive factor in boosting the religious tourism industry, Al-Eqtisadiah business daily reported, quoting industry sources.
A huge increase in the inflow of Umrah pilgrims from the Arab and Muslim countries is expected over July and August, corresponding to Shaaban and Ramadan.
The annual summer vacation is scheduled to start by the end of June in most of these countries.
This means that a record number of Umrah pilgrims are expected to arrive for the lesser pilgrimage this year during the holy month of Ramadan, marking the peak of the season. Abu Sabaa said there had been a tremendous increase in reservations at hotels and residential apartments in both the central Haram area as well as in the neighboring districts of Aziziya and Maabadiya for the coming two months.
"This demand will increase further by the end of Shaaban and the beginning of Ramadan. Many Umrah tour operators have already reserved the hotels and apartments," he said, adding customers can book accommodation at reasonable prices in advance.
Abu Sabaa noted that many pilgrims used to approach the hotels and apartments during the peak season. "They find it very difficult to find appropriate accommodation, and also they need to pay high rates," he said. Abu Sabaa also noted that the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has issued strict directives against charging pilgrims exorbitant and unreasonable rates. At present, the increase should not be higher than 10 to 15 percent, he said.
Hani Maulavi, owner of a hotel in the central Haram area, also expected a huge inflow of pilgrims this summer as it coincided with Ramadan.
"Most of the bookings that we have are from Umrah and tour operators from various Muslim countries," he said, while ruling out the possibility that operators and owners of hotels and residential buildings would exploit the situation.
"We have strict orders from the SCTA against charging unreasonable rates. The commission has warned violators of its directives with stringent punitive measures," he added.
Saleh Al-Ghamdi, manager of reservations at a five-star hotel in Makkah, said the hotel has stopped taking bookings for the months of Shaaban and Ramadan.
"Our occupancy rates reach 30 to 45 percent on working days from Saturday through to Wednesday and rises to more than 80 percent during the weekend," he said, adding that there are indications that a large number of Saudi citizens would spend their summer vacation this time in the Kingdom due to unrest in Middle East countries.
© Arab News 2011
