30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

JEDDAH: The National Transformation Program of 2020, one of the initiatives of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, stated that the annual increase of Haj pilgrims to the Kingdom stands at 13 percent. However, annually increasing in Umrah visitors will be 30 percent.

According to the National Transformation Program, whose details were announced Tuesday at a news conference, the number of Haj pilgrims from both inside and outside the Kingdom, is expected to go up by 2020 to 2.5 million, an annual increase of up to 13 percent. The number of pilgrims last year, was estimated at 1.5 million.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Hatem Alqadi, said the annual increase in pilgrims will be open to all Muslims from all over the globe, adding that the work will be the same, and the mechanism of housing and feeding the pilgrims will be pursued by the ministry based on contracts with companies and institutions that provide pilgrim services, including transportation.

He said the ministry will be working throughout the year and has much experience in supporting pilgrims and those visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

He added that by 2020, 15 million Umrah visitors will reach the Kingdom, a 30 percent increase over the current 6 million, according to Al-Watan.

Source: arabnews.com