Mohamed Elias Ben Othman, head of pilgrimage and Umrah at the Tunisian Federation of Travel and Tourism Agencies (FTAV), has said that one of the most important measures to be taken to avoid what he described as the tragedy that befell pilgrims last season is to block the way to brokers and agents, whom he described as “touts”.
In a statement to the Assabah newspaper on Sunday, he added that the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Borders and Aliens Administration and the National Accommodation Company should take all the necessary precautions and pay special attention to anyone who obtains a personal or tourist visa a few months before the start of the Hajj season.
He pointed out that many of those who perform Hajj leave Tunisia two or even three months in advance and settle in Saudi Arabia until the start of the season, knowing that these visas are not valid for Hajj.
