A new site eliminates the need for UK-based agents who organize the trip for some 25,000 British Muslims annually. Under the Package Travel Regulations, companies that have consumers with existing reservations will be required to issue refunds.
A Twitter account that usually posts updates about the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia released information about an online government portal where travelers from certain countries, including the United Kingdom, can register their interest before being randomly picked to visit.
The hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, in Saudi Arabia.
The new gateway eliminates the need for UK-based agents who organize the trip for some 25,000 British Muslims annually. Under the Package Travel Regulations, companies that have consumers with existing reservations will be required to issue refunds.
Abu Sayed Ansarey, a travel agent and hajj guide, described the situation as a “horror” and said it threatens to wipe out the £175 million sectors.
“This is our revenue, and many agents rely on it to exist. We contribute to the British economy as well “He announced to Sky News that he would have to repay approximately £280,000 in refunds.
Mr. Ansarey noted that many of his clients are hesitant to move money abroad in the absence of proper protection.
“I told them they could get their money back, but they said it wasn’t about the money; they wanted to perform hajj with a friend.
“They wish to follow in the footsteps of their forebears, with hajj guides like myself.”
The customer stated, “I’ve heard that it’s not ATOL covered,” alluding to the UK’s financial protection scheme for flying package holidays. I do not wish to book through this gateway.
Yasmin Qureshi, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, has reportedly informed the Saudi government that their packages do not comply with UK travel requirements.
“I have written to the Ministry on the rollout of the entire portal,”
“What is the ultimate recourse for a pilgrim if something goes wrong? On the previous system, packages were ATOL-protected, so if anything went wrong, we were compensated.”
The Saudi government has not made any public statements confirming or denying the reports, but the Motawif portal is operational.
There is a history of fraud in the UK hajj travel industry, with some fraudulent operators vanishing with thousands of pounds of pilgrims’ money.
“My wife has wanted to go for years, so we waited for the pandemic to pass and then scheduled the trip immediately. My children saved and budgeted for this item “he said.
“This deposit is non-refundable, and we stand to lose £6,000. My major problem, however, is that it’s so late to make this statement, and we haven’t been told anything substantial.
“I wouldn’t enter the hajj lottery this year if it were up to me since I want to observe how it works before sending such a significant amount of money worldwide. Not pleasant to be the guinea pig.”
The Civil Aviation Authority advises travelers to purchase travel insurance and use suitable credit cards wherever possible.
