Ehab Abdel Aal, member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Tourism Companies, said performing Umrah during the month of Ramadan has reached an impasse, as negotiations with Saudi Arabia did not result in solutions and Egyptian tourism companies have not been able to acquire visas.
"The expected number to be deprived of performing Umrah may exceed 80,000 pilgrims," Abdel Aal said.
"Egyptian tourism companies are in an unenviable position and now have to reimburse pilgrims the money they paid to these companies for the trip," he added.
The companies had already bought airline tickets and paid for housing in Mecca and Medina, but the pilgrims are not to blame for that and need to have their money returned, Abdel Aal mentioned.
Additionally, the Tourism Ministry's position during the crisis was unclear, but Tourism Minister Khaled Ramy has had to intervene to find a solution.
Abdel Aal stressed the importance of addressing hotels and airlines that have received money from the Egyptian companies to return the money without imposing financial sanctions because what happened was outside the control of the companies.
Eight Saudi travel agencies have been closed by Saudi authorities and 153 Egyptian travel agencies that once worked with them are now left searching for alternatives to continue the Umrah programs.
Non-official estimates of losses stated by members at the Egyptian Travel Agents Association’s general assembly have come to LE150 million.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
