By Mohammed Wajihuddin
After pilgrims and tour operators welcomed the resumption of Umrah visas after 10 months from Friday, tour operators have demanded that regular flights between India and Saudi Arabia should start under air bubble arrangements.
Though Saudi Arabia allowed Umrah visas for international pilgrims on November 1, it had not resumed visas for Indian pilgrims and flights from India to the Saudi kingdom have remained suspended. While Haj involves performed over five days annually, Umrah, also called lesser pilgrimage, can be performed multiple times through the year.
“It is good news that now Umrah visas for Indian pilgrims are being issued, but unless flights under air bubble arrangements between India and Saudi Arabia tart, it will not make much sense,” said Yusuf Ahmed Kherada of Al Khalid Tours and Travels. Currently, some NRIs are travelling to Saudi Arabia via Dubai. It is not feasible for the Umrah pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia via Dubai as it that will increase the cost and require a 14-day quarantine in Dubai, which no Umrah pilgrim will agree to.
Imran Alvi of Alvi Tours and Travels said Umrah pilgrims had desperately wanted resumption of visa so that they can travel to Islam’s holiest places in Saudi Arabia. Though Umrah is performed near the holy shrine in Mecca, most pilgrims also travel to Medina to visit the Prophet’s mausoleum there.
Before the pandemic breakout halted Umrah, around seven lakh Indian pilgrims would perform Umrah annually. “I want to visit Mecca and perform Umrah soon. It brings so many blessings,” said a Central Mumbai resident requesting anonymity.
India has air bubble arrangements with 22 countries. These are special arrangements, through which flights are allowed for a short period before normal commercial flights resume between two countries. ( TOI )
