Street Times News
SRINAGAR: Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2021 allowed the licensed and accredited tour operators from India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt to design Umrah packages, but following the surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant the resumption of Umrah has been put on hold for the time being.
In an interview with Street Times, Peerzada Shah Hussain CEO of Reem Hajj and Umrah Services, a well reputed Hajj & Umrah Company in Kashmir said that the Umrah package has been put on hold for the time being. Shah, a founder member of All Jammu Kashmir Hajj Umrah Tour Operators Association (AJKHUTOA) said that keeping the OMICRON measures under consideration it has been decided not to promote groups for the time being.
Shah said that the package cost for 15 days will be minimum Rs. 1,65,000/-@pax which is impossible for a common pilgrim to pay. He appealed and advised the people to get in touch with the members of AJKHUTOA for enquiries regarding formalities, Covid-19 protocols and updated booking procedures regarding Umrah.
Pertinently, AJKHUTOA is the first and foremost group of registered Hajj Tour Operators in Jammu & Kashmir. AJKHUTOA is registered & recognized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs Government of India and Ministry of Hajj Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & the IATA registered group of Umrah tour operators. AJKHUTOA Is registered under Trade Union Act 1926 Section 28.
It would be in place to mention here that Saudi Arabia has been constantly changing the protocols and the guidelines laid for the Umrah pilgrimage. Recently a new guideline has been issued by international airlines that for all Umrah passengers it is mandatory to have a quarantine package.