Ramadan travel down 30% due to A(H1N1)
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Travel the Islamic holy months of Ramadan is expected to be down by almost 30% due the A(H1N1) flu scare and travel restrictions. Fursan Travel, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading providers of leisure and corporate travel, meetings and events, and GSA services, has advised that restrictions placed on travelers to Umrah during Ramadan would have a severe impact on travel to and from Saudi Arabia. Fursan’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger Pfund, said that recent developments by Egypt, Iran and Iraq to partially suspend visa applications would ultimately lead to a reduction in travellers to the Kingdom.
“The decision to ban people traveling due to the H1N1 flu pandemic is respected, however the longer term impact on the economy here cannot be understated” Pfund said. “Those who travel during the holy month of Ramadan for Umrah provide a significant boost to our tourism industry. With these restrictions in place, travellers will ultimately look to alternate destinations outside the Kingdom or defer travel until 2010.”
Pfund added that based on current trends, passenger numbers could be down by almost 30% on last year’s Ramadan period. “Our own analysis of airline and hotel requirements during the next four weeks suggests there is a significant travel decline against the same period last year,” Pfund said.
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