Preparing for the pilgrimage

The beginning of autumn for the Muslims means starting preparations for pilgrimage to the saint places: Mecca and Medina. Even though the Haj turns out to be in the last decade of December, travel companies already started preparing for it. 22 travel companies participated in tender, that allow transportation of people to Saudi Arabia. The winning company will be known in few days. “Basically, the main criteria for the travel company is clear calculations of costs and expenses, that include tours Osh – Medina – Osh and Bishkek – Mecca – Bishkek,” said Toigonbek Kalmatov, Director of State Agency on Religion Affairs under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic. Not only travel and air traffic companies met tough requirements this year. In order to eliminate illegal use of quota given to Kyrgyzstan for the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by foreigners the registration procedures were restricted as well. “Name, application data and a picture of a person who applies for the Hadj will be put on a special list. And every registered person will be inspected thoroughly. In case of any hesitations the case will be transferred to appropriate departments,” said Toigonbek Kalmatov, Director of State Agency on Religion Affairs under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic. From now on there will be flights from Kyrgyzstan to Saudi Arabia. By means of that the prices for the tickets would go up. However, according to the director of state agency on religion affairs, those expenses will be compensated by means of free living in Mecca and Medina. Those conditions were already agreed with the state officials in Saudi Arabia. Quota for Kyrgyzstan this year is four and half thousands places.

Submission | September 4, 2007

Tags:. .air. .director. .every. .company. .companies