Saudi Tourism Ministry plans to increase pilgrim capacity ahead of Ramadan

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

In order to increase pilgrim capacity in Makkah and Madinah to accommodate the increased demand for lodging during the holy month of Ramadan, plans are being developed by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.

On his Twitter page, Kingdom Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib stated that the ministry intends to operate extra 9,000 hotel rooms in Madinah before Ramadan.

“I met with businessmen and operators of the hospitality sector in Madinah, and we were briefed on the readiness of the city’s hotels to receive visitors and Umrah performers in the Ramadan season,” said Al-Khatib.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah served seven million Umrah visitors in 2022, including four million worshippers holding Umrah visas.

In the same year, the Kingdom for the first time permitted those with a tourist visa to perform Umrah while in the country.

Al-Khateeb also stated that the ministry is trying to improve the quality of the Kingdom’s hospitality sector by empowering the private sector with laws and funding options.

As part of its path to become a worldwide tourist centre, as envisioned in Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia introduced a new digital tourism strategy earlier this month in an effort to attract more visitors.

Al-Khateeb unveiled the plan’s framework during the global and technology-leading LEAP 2023 summit.

The World Tourist Organization, the World Bank, and digital partners such as Microsoft and Cisco have also endorsed the new digital tourism strategy. The digital plan includes nine programs and will be completed by 2025.

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