Umra tour operators making roaring business

LAHORE: At a time when domestic tourism is showing no sign of recovery, tour operators involved in Umra tourism are making a reasonable fortune as tens of thousands of people perform the religious ritual every year.

No wonder if you find scores of Umra tourism operators in a high number in almost all big cities doing a roaring business.

The most interesting part of the activity is that it continues all round the year, touching the peak during the month of holy Ramazan.

But the business is not without difficulties as Umra performers are always concerned about air travel, stay in hotel, food, local travelling and visit to the holy places after reports of the mishandling of the faithful in recent months.

According to All Pakistan Haj/Umra Tour Operators Association figures, about 162 tour operators are offering services allover the country while the number of the operators in Lahore is 88.

A boom Umra tourism can be seen by the number of publicity campaigns run by operators. There is hardly a day when advertisement does not appear in newspapers or magazines by Umra tour operators. A couple of commercial plazas on Davis Road and around Simla Hill are hubs of Umra tour operators.

Not only the tour operators are getting handsome return, the sub-sector is also providing scores of jobs to people.

An interesting aspect of the tourism is that many commercial banks have also jumped into it. One can easily find a board with invitations like 'Umra forms are available here' at entry points of many banks. In fact, some banks have set up special counters to deal with Umra tourism.

Chief executive of an outlet, Muhammad Ahmad, told APP that they were doing a good business despite lean days. In fact, he said, the activity continued throughout the year.

"Ramazan is the best for business as every influential family tries to perform Umra," he added.

General Manger of an outlet, Tahir Nadeem, said that last year the rate of Umra package ranged between Rs 33,000 and Rs 36,000 but due to a hike in airfare the package had increased to Rs 53,000 and Rs 70,000.