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About 10,000 pilgrims to fly to Saudi by end of February for umrah

KUALA LUMPUR: Around 10,000 Malaysian pilgrims are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah by the end of this month.

Association of Umrah and Haj Travel Agents (Papuh) chairman Datuk Seri Razali Mohd Sham said the pilgrims who had their trips postponed were already rescheduling their trips for the coming months.

He said there would be more pilgrims to perform umrah in the coming months especially during the fasting month of Ramadan.

"Our (booking) volumes are increasing as we speak.

"It is understandable because people have waited for about two years for this and now they have a good chance.

"They are confident of safely performing the umrah and fully abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in both countries," he said when contacted today.

He said that the pilgrims were less worried of the recent Omicron wave of Covid-19 as all of them have completed their vaccinations and taken their booster shots.

He also said that the travel agents will have no issues to follow the latest SOP which comes to force on Feb 14.

The new SOPs are - having a person in charge (PIC) from the tour agency monitoring SOP compliance among umrah pilgrims throughout the trip at the Holy Land, journey back to the country and Malaysia's international entry points; and pilgrims would be allowed to undergo mandatory quarantine at home without having to submit the Home Quarantine Application (HQA).

The pilgrims could also isolate themselves at private quarantine stations, with the cost borne by them.

The pilgrims must also have taken their booster vaccine shots to perform umrah.

There was a case of unvaccinated individuals who flew to Saudi Arabia when umrah was previously allowed.

Speaking about the issue, Razali said that travel agencies will carry out checks before approving their trip.

"We will do the best from our side to prevent this.

"We will definitely check their vaccination status in MySejahtera before allowing them to go for umrah," he added.

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