Saudi Arabia will reopen the Umrah pilgrimage, the small pilgrimage to Mecca, to pilgrims from abroad vaccinated against Covid-19, the official Saudi press agency reported on Sunday (August 8th).
Saudi authorities will begin accepting applications for entry into the country from Monday, the agency said.
The borders were closed some 18 months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Until now, only vaccinated pilgrims residing in Saudi Arabia were eligible for a permit to perform umrah.
Foreign pilgrims wishing to travel to Mecca will also need to be vaccinated, with a serum recognized by Saudi Arabia, and submit to quarantine rules, the Saudi agency added, citing the ministry in charge of pilgrimages.
Strong investments in tourism
The small pilgrimage, which unlike the hajj can be performed throughout the year, normally attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year.
The Covid-19 epidemic has greatly disrupted these pilgrimages, important sources of income for the kingdom which bring in some 10.3 billion euros per year.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions in the tourism industry in recent years to diversify its oil economy.
Long reclusive, the kingdom issued its first tourist visas in 2019. Between September 2019 and the closure of borders in March 2020, it issued 400,000 tourist visas.
The government accelerated the vaccination campaign in early August, with the aim of reviving tourism and hosting sporting events and shows.
Vaccination is now compulsory to enter public and private establishments, including schools and places of entertainment, as well as to use public transport.
Since the start of the health crisis, Saudi Arabia has officially recorded more than 5,321,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 8,300 deaths.
With AFP
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