MECCA
Saudi Arabian Minister of Pilgrimage Affairs and Religious Trusts Bandar bin Muhammad Hajjar has stated that there was a significant increase in the number of visitors who came to the country for umrah purposes in 2013.
Hajjar said that over 1.6 million people travelled to Saudi Arabia for umrah, in the last three months.
Stating that they expected a record number of visitors in the holy month of Ramadan, Hajjar said that the number of people visiting Saudi Arabia could exceed 6 million in 2013.
Hajjar also said that umrah visitors were increasing between 10 to 20 percent every year and they were working in cooperation with other ministries nationally and internationally to avoid problems.
Stating that they expected the highest number of visitors from Pakistan and Algeria, Hajjar emphasized that Kaaba extension works would have no effect on these visits.
Turkish head of Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez on Tuesday will visit Hajjar and sign the Pilgrimage Protocol.
Reporting by Irfan Sapmaz
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