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| Hajj Tour Operators Summit Sun 20 Jul 2008 |
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The session was chaired by Nicolette Divecha, the BERR (Business Enterprise & Regulation) official with overall responsibility in this area. Consumer Minister Gareth Thomas MP in his opening address stated that an objective was to bring tour operators and other pilgrimage service providers together to see what could be done collectively for the benefit and protection of consumers. There were brief presentations on a range of relevant issues: Package Travel Regulations (Berenice Napier, BERR); ATOL licensing requirements (David Clover, Civil Aviation Authority); Enforcement issues (Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards Institute). Lord Adam Patel spoke briefly on the role of the FCO-sponsored British Hajj Delegation. Gareth Thomas acknowledged the role of Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, who had drawn his attention to the distress caused by ‘rogue’ tour operators and had suggested this conference.
The conference programme included a Q&A session and four parallel workshops run by BERR facilitators. It was perhaps the first networking opportunity for practitioners, who were able to share information on developments such as the regional associations of tour operators emerging in the Midlands, and also the Hajj Operators Association – North Zone.
Rashid Mogradia of the Council of British Hajjis, based in Bolton, described the work in establishing links with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in providing free pre-Hajj medical checks, and the potential of replicating this ‘good practice’ at the national level - "it is important that we recognise and work with partners such as the NHS, BERR and the FCO in raising awareness of issues facing pilgrims for their benefit". The Muslim Council of Britain was represented in the BERR summit by Jamil Sherif (Research & Documentation Committee). A number of tour operators present were appreciative of the MCB’s medical field work led by Dr Shuja Shafi, including the ‘Hajj & Umra' conference organised jointly with the Health Protection Agency and Queen Mary, University of London, in November 2006. Among the over 100 leading Hajj service organisers present were Arif Hajj & Umrah Services (Nelson), Arif Khans Hajj & Umrah Tours (Birmingham), Sky Fly Connections Ltd (Bradford), Hassan Hajj Tours London Ltd (Leytonstone) and Hajj & Umrah Travel (Maida Vale).
Tour operators highlighted some of the difficulties they faced during the Hajj period in Saudi Arabia. They were unable to control transportation arrangements or facilities in Mina. They pressed BERR to address some practical issues, such as overcoming the current difficulties in accessing banking facilities in Saudi Arabia in order to deposit hajjis’ cash. The view was expressed that the British Hajj Delegation’s scope of work was limited because the needs of tour operators were not being addressed.
BERR officials provided examples of hajj tour leaflets and marketing material lacking essential information such as contact details (not just a mobile number!) or adequate description of services to be offered. They were reminded that they had an obligation to inspect hotels, and that this was normal practice of UK tour operators in other market sectors. It was essential for a prospective traveller to ensure that their selected tour operator was ATOL registered, a Civil Aviation Authority-run licensing scheme offering financial and other protections. There were currently 40 ATOL license holders – about 10% of Hajj and Umra tour operators. Participants from the industry agreed that they had to ‘clean up their act’ and also let customers know exactly what quality of service they were committed to providing. However it was also felt that younger Hajjis had very high expectations – and expected a ‘Dubai experience’!
The workshops provided an opportunity to explore different terminologies in use, such as ‘munazzam card holder’ – the authorisation granted by Saudi authorities to a hajj group leader. About 25,000 British Muslims performed the Hajj and Umra in 2007. The Summit will be a land-mark event in the professionalisation of Muslim Hajj and Umra tour operators. BERR is planning further regional consultation meetings.
Links
BERR leaflet on Hajj pilgrimage
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file41187.pdf
FCO Advice to British Hajjis
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/ta-relevant-to-you/hajj-pilgrims
MCB Health & Hajj seminar
http://www.mcb.org.uk/media/ntext.php?ann_id=600
Specialist references
BMJ paper by Drs Shuja Shafi, Ziad A Memish et.al. on influenza vaccine uptake
BMJ 2006;333:1220 (9 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39051.734329.3A
Lancet paper by Drs Shuja Shafi, Ziad A Memish et al Meningococcal vaccine coverage in Hajj pilgrims
21 April 2007 (Vol. 369, Issue 9570, Page 1343)
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