The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, through its Central Administration for Tourism Companies, has continued its fieldwork in Mecca and Medina to monitor the implementation of Umrah programs for the 1448H season. This effort is in line with directives from Tourism Minister Sharif Fathy and aims to protect the rights of Egyptian pilgrims and ensure the quality of services provided. The ministry's committees are working around the clock to verify that tourism companies adhere to approved programs and respond promptly to any issues.
Samia Sami, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Tourism Companies and Chair of the Supreme Hajj and Umrah Committee, emphasized that the ministry's committees in Saudi Arabia are working continuously to monitor tourism companies' compliance with approved Umrah programs. They are also identifying any observations that may impact service levels and intervening promptly to resolve any challenges faced by companies or pilgrims. Sami highlighted the effective coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and relevant Saudi authorities.
The majority of Egyptian tourism companies have demonstrated commitment to implementing agreed-upon programs and providing contracted services to pilgrims. However, a limited number of companies have been found to be non-compliant, and the ministry's committees are addressing these cases and taking necessary legal actions. Sami assured that the ministry is dealing with these issues promptly to ensure pilgrims receive their rights and contracted services.
The ministry's committees are conducting field visits to hotels where Egyptian pilgrims are staying in Mecca and Medina to verify their well-being and monitor tourism companies' adherence to approved programs. They are also checking if the accommodations and services match the contracts made with pilgrims. This oversight aims to ensure that pilgrims receive the quality services they have paid for.
During their visits, the committees meet with Egyptian pilgrims to listen to their concerns and gather feedback on services such as accommodations, transportation, and program activities. They address these concerns promptly in coordination with tourism companies, Saudi agents, and relevant authorities. The committees also introduce pilgrims to the "Rafiq" electronic application, launched this season to enhance digital monitoring of Umrah trips.
The "Rafiq" application allows pilgrims and tourism company supervisors to confirm departure from Egyptian ports, arrival at and accommodation in Mecca and Medina, and return to Egypt. It also enables them to send observations or reports and track responses. This application facilitates swift communication with the ministry's committees in Saudi Arabia and the operations room in Cairo.
The ministry's committees use data from the "Rafiq" application to monitor the implementation of Umrah programs and verify that accommodations match approved programs. This data also enables the operations room to track incoming observations and direct them to the relevant committee or tourism company for resolution.
Key points
- The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is actively monitoring the implementation of Umrah programs in Saudi Arabia to ensure the well-being and rights of Egyptian pilgrims.
- The ministry's committees are working around the clock in Mecca and Medina to verify compliance with approved programs and address any challenges faced by pilgrims or tourism companies.
- The "Rafiq" electronic application has been launched to enhance digital monitoring of Umrah trips and facilitate communication between pilgrims, tourism companies, and the ministry's committees.
