Number of applicants for Ramadan Omra decreases by 60 percent

Chief of the National Union of Travel Agencies Ilyes Senoussi said Saudi authorities stopped using quota system in Omra for Algerians this year. This is due to the decreasing number of applicants for Omra as Algeria experiences a difficult economic situation.

Senoussi told Echorouk that the fall in dinar value compared to US dollar is one of the reasons behind the decreasing number of applicants for Omra this year. People are also saving money for housing programs and special occasions such as the fasting month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the beginning of the school year. The number went down by 60 percent. Because of that, Saudi authorities banned quota system for the Ramadan Omra.

He added that Saudi Embassy stopped granting the Ramadan Omra visa for Algerians on Thursday. Applicants will get replies this week. The last group of Omra performers will go to the Holly Lands on June 22nd and 23th.

The Ramadan Omra costs for this season reached record levels estimated at 350,000 DZ.