By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu, Independent Hajj Reporter
Around 2.5 million Muslims used to attend Hajj annually in the pre-pandemic times and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia downsized the numbers of Muslims allowed to perform the Hajj rites to prevent spread of COVID-19 which saw a total of 100,000 pilgrims within the Kingdom to performed the Hajj under pandemic in 2020.
According to a white paper research by world Hajj and Umrah conference foundation and the Hajj people dubbed Hajj under pandemic conditions” the entire Hajj-Ecosystem holding its breath, paralyzed and in wait, concerned with the uncertainty that shrouds every aspect of Hajj Management and planning”.
The research continues “With optimism, over 95% of stakeholders interviewed during the specialized research engagement Voiced their vote of confidence, in support of the leadership and decisions made by the Saudi government. Echoed unanimously is the resolute confidence in the Saudi Ministry of Hajj Umrah ability to help the Hajj and Umrah industry navigate the challenges posed by COVID 19 and rejuvenate the sector back to normalcy”.
As part of a digital solutions package for post Hajj in the COVID-19 period, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched several digitization infrastructures like the Hajj Smart Card, online payments and registration, electronic visa application and several technological approach in streamlining the Hajj ecosystem.
According to Arab news in one of its publications on digital solutions reported on how these digital solutions are going to help pilgrims and Hajj economy to bounce back after the pandemic. “According to the ministry, there are two versions of the smart card. The digital version can be accessed through the Nusuk application and provides comprehensive information about the pilgrims, including their place of residence, health records, itinerary, and other services.
The printed smart card, meanwhile, includes details such as identity number, nationality, and the address of the pilgrimage company. Additionally, it features a QR response code” it said.
Same Arab News reported that, “by 2030, the kingdom is committed to tripling this number and welcoming six million pilgrims a year as part of its Vision 2030 programme, propelling the kingdom’s Hajj tourism market value to more than $350 billion by 2032”.
“This growth has provided Hajj planners with a logistical challenge that is increasingly being solved by a host of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, the metaverse, robots and drones” the news reported.
The recovery plan under the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had a direct and indirect effects on participating countries Hajj operations and pilgrim facilitation. The kingdom raised the existing VAT from 10% to 15% which translated into the various sectors of the economy in Saudi Arabia including housing, transportation, telecommunication, health, commerce, aviation, food, services and other sectors thus making the cost of organizing Hajj and Umrah expensive.
This means, more trading currencies like US dollar, British pound and the Euro are needed for exchange with the Saudi Riyal for goods and services and this definitely has a direct impact on the cost of performing Hajj by participating countries.
Despite these developments in the Hajj ecosystem, the Ghana Hajj Board since the resumption of full-scale Hajj operations after the COVID-19 Pandemic, has managed and maintained the quality of Hajj for Ghanaian pilgrims through out their stay in Saudi Arabia during Hajj seasons and the Board has recorded positive post-Hajj public and media commendations of the conduct of the pilgrimage.
The value for money component in the actualization of every pilgrim in attaining the purpose of performing Hajj after huge financial commitments in this spiritual journey is been felt by Ghanaian pilgrims who are under the supervision of the Ghana Hajj Board. The current atmosphere during Hajj requires a serene environment for pilgrims to stay and worship in a stress-free manner and that comes with financial obligation. The Ghana Hajj Board has therefore considered and implemented all the necessary mechanisms to ensure pilgrims gets value for money by providing them a conducive high standard accommodation to stay in Medina and Makkah. For instance, 2023 Ghanaian pilgrims were accommodated in one of the best hotels in the world called Hilton and Frontel hotels which is a stone throw to Prophet Mohammed S.A.W mosque which is the main reason for visiting Medina. This efforts by the Ghana Hajj Board reduces the walking distance previous pilgrims make to the mosque for prayers and supplications and that has help them to live in comfort.
The same value for money approach by the Ghana Hajj Board applies to all the services provided to pilgrims in the area of good transportation, food and refreshment, security, health services, Masha’ir and all-important aspect of the pilgrimage. With the level of respect accorded to Ghanaian pilgrims by the Ghana Hajj Board, many participating countries with higher Hajj cost than Ghana, have not been able to meet with the comfort pilgrims needed to stay and worship under this era of Hajj pilgrimage which requires more care and easiest proximity to Hajj rites and areas outside the pillars of Hajj but important to pilgrims.
Despite the poor performance of the Ghanaian Cedi against the US dollar resulting to some increase in Ghana Hajj cost post-COVID, Ghanaian pilgrims have not in any way been denied all the luxury a pilgrim in this contemporary Hajj ecosystem. The current Hajj ecosystem affected housing, transport, airfares and the general economic outlook of Saudi Arabia in the post-COVID era. The transformational road map of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage dubbed ‘vision 2030’ and other redevelopment strategies by the Kingdom to meet up with the technological advancement set up in its visions to broaden the socio-economic outlook, thus adjusting the cost of doing business especially in the Hajj and Umrah industry which contributes about 7% of the Kingdom’s GDP.
Every financial transaction in the Hajj and Umrah services is done in the Saudi Riyal irrespective of which country you are coming from. For instance, as someone from Ghana wishing to book for an accommodation or any other services in Saudi Arabia especially the two Holy cities as a pilgrim, that prospective pilgrim must convert his or Ghanaian Cedi to the US Dollar, British pound or the Euros but preferable is the US Dollar. With your Dollar, you need to still convert to the Saudi Riyal to meet the cost of the services which is always in the Saudi Riyal. The Saudi Riyal has strong forex value than any currency as far as trading is concern in the Kingdom. For example, you need about GH¢ 3 to exchange for SAR 1 and GH¢ 12.4 for $ 1 and these affects the costing of Hajj service components including airfares.
Another component of the Hajj cost across every participating country which people are not considering in pushing up the cost is the airfares. All air services during Hajj is by one-way flight schedules under chatter services. The plane enrout with crew from Saudi Arabia without passengers to Ghana and carries pilgrims back to Saudi Arabia and return to Ghana empty repeatedly. This is because, Ghana does not have a national airline nor any local based carrier. Even some of the participating countries with national airlines has higher Hajj cost than Ghana yet Ghanaian pilgrims receives more improved services comparing to many countries in advantage position.
In conclusion, the Ghana Hajj Mission with its dedicated staff and result oriented leadership have been able to positioned the Hajj operations into the contemporary Hajj ecosystem to meet the demands of pilgrims as expected by the ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the vision 2030 agenda. The Hajj cost by the Ghana Hajj Mission is in line with the changes in the Hajj ecosystem though Ghana Hajj authorities have managed to bring down the burden of prospective pilgrims by introducing marginal and affordable Hajj cost though the economy of Ghana is not yet stable with Ghanaians finding it difficult to see the reality of the changes in the global Hajj ecosystem.
