Tour operators unsure of travel and accommodation arrangements for Haj

With the Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) releasing the approved list of private tour operators on Wednesday, tour firms are worried whether they will be able to make arrangements for travel and accommodation for the annual Haj pilgrimage that will start from the end of this month.

Of the 1,72,000 pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina, 1,25,000 pilgrims will travel with the assistance of the Haj Committee.

On September 14, the MEA released the list of private tour operators who will be able to provide travel assistance to pilgrims.

“The first flight from India is on September 29 and our biggest worry is that we will not be able to complete travel formalities by then,” said Ibrahim Hashim Kolsawala, convenor of the Federation of All India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers.

The Haj travel operators in the city are also challenging a notification of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Bombay high court that has barred them from taking pilgrims for Haj. “The MEA came up with criteria that could not be met,” said Mouazam Rashid Ahmed, a tour operator from Pydhonie. One of the main criteria that most failed is having a 250 sq ft office space. The travel operators state that around 10,000 passengers will get affected as they have already made plans.