After Umrah Program A Destination for Muslims
After Umrah Program A Destination for Muslims 3
What is After Umrah Program? These are tourist trips designed for the people who arrive into the Kingdom as Umrah performers or as general visitors. After completing the holy rituals and planned tasks, they are offered with an opportunity to learn more about the real history of Islam, as well as recognize the cultural dimension of the Kingdom and its history to appreciate its historical role in the service of Islam and the Muslims through the ages. They will also have an opportunity to meet the local people during their visits, contributing to strengthening relations between them and the people of the Kingdom and its Holy sites. 5
Project Vision After Umrah Program can be a major initiative for Umrah performers and visitors to recognize the Kingdom after completing the holy rituals at Holy Mosques and attending to other scheduled tasks. This is expected to strengthen the links between Muslims throughout the world and the Kingdom. Project Mission To organize attractive and informative tours for Umrah performers and visitors after completion of their religious duties and other tasks, enabling them to understand the history and civilization of the Holy Land, and give them the opportunity to take advantage of their visit to the Kingdom by participating in designated tourism trips, take advantage of medical tourism, attend conferences and exhibitions or participate in the local cultural events. 7
Importance of After Umrah Program Linking Umrah performers and visitors, culturally and socially with Saudi Arabia to carry back with them positive feelings about the Kingdom and its people, as well as accurate knowledge about the Kingdom and its residents. Thus enhance their attachment to the homeland and its people. Inform Umrah performers and visitors on the accurate history of Islam and the history of the Kingdom, and the Arabian Peninsula. Umrah goers will better know the values, principals, heritage and culture Saudi Arabia is founded on as well as its role in serving islam and Muslims Inform Umrah performers and visitors on the advances made by the Kingdom in the fields of science, education, industry, agriculture, culture and heritage, and the national security in combating terrorism and extremism Open job opportunities and income sources for Saudi citizens and institutions who are involved in the service of Umrah performers and visitors during their trips inside the Kingdom. 9
Who are eligible for the After Umrah Program? Umrah performers from the countries that are already approved for inbound tourism Visitors coming into the Kingdom with non-umrah visas, such as for business trips, attending conferences and exhibitions, or sports and any other activity. State guests as Umrah performers from different countries. GCC nationals Transit passengers, businessmen and dignitaries from various Islamic countries. 11
Major objectives of the After Umrah Program Provide high quality approved programs of inland tourism trips dedicated for Umrah performers and visitors as an opportunity to visit different parts of the Kingdom to enjoy Islamic history sites, national heritage sites, cultural monuments, or participate in the cultural and heritage events, attend to conferences and exhibitions or visit advanced medical facilities in the Kingdom like hospitals, natural hot springs, nature settings, etc. Stimulate demand for After Umrah Program by defining it and explaining the steps to avail it. Enable tour operators to organize and manage tours for Umrah performers and visitors, after the completion of their religious duties and scheduled tasks. Enable various organizations and relevant private sector companies to provide tourism services to Umrah performers and visitors. Enable various destinations to receive Umrah performers and visitors as tourists and offer them unique tourism experiences. 13
Partners in the After Umrah Program Secretariats and municipalities Ministry of Hajj Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Interior General Commission for Civil Aviation (GACA) Tourism Development Councils Accommodation facilities After Umrah Trips Travel and Tourism Association Accommodation facilities Tourist Guides Association Medical sector Land transport companies Tour operators Umrah organizers 15
Integration of After Umrah Program with other programs and projects Comprehensive Development Project Museums and Antiquities Islamic History Sites The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Project Licensing and Quality Dept SCTH Branches Tourism Tracks Program Integration of After Umrah Tourist Sites Takamul Saudi Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) Tourism Programs Marketing Tamkeen Program Tourism Programs Development National Urban Heritage Program 17
Economic impact of After Umrah Program The Umrah performers are expected to double their number and spending after the expansion of the Haram mosque and the Prophet s mosque and King Abdul-Aziz Airport expansion program and improvement of land transportation services between the two Holy Mosques. At present Umrah performers spend part of their budget in other countries due to the lack of customized domestic tourism trips inside the Kingdom. Estimated spending by pilgrims on their Umrah trips and other visits in 2015 was about SR 21.17 billion 3.000.000 2.500.000 2.000.000 1.500.000 1.000.000 500.000 The number of people 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 19
After Umrah Program Tourism routes SCTH to develop attractive tourism routes contributing to enrich the experience of After Umrah Program tourism trips relying on the direct participation of the local communities, and providing new employment opportunities for the community members and increase in their income resources, which will reflect positively on the local communities working at or near the tourism sites. Following categories are involved in the program: Urban heritage sites Islamic history sites Road side rest areas Heritage villages Historical Souks and events Tourist sites Traditional markets, handicraft centers and traditional industries Museums Health resorts Exhibition and Conference Centers Rural lodges After Umrah Trips 21
Economic Impact of the After Umrah Program Enables Umrah goers and visitors to attend conferences and expos held in various provinces, after completing their rituals. Umrah goers are able to benefit from the medical services offered in Saudi Arabia at private medical facilities or payable public facilities with enough capacity Transit passengers travelling throughout Saudi`s airports are offered a chance to go on short trips during their stopovers, and muslim travelers can obtain a Umrah visa for the ministry of hajj 23
After Umrah Program linking with other areas Conferences-exhibitions Itineraries can be posted for Umrah performers after finishing their rituals to visit exhibitions or attend conferences and events that are held in various regions of the Kingdom. Health tourism After Umrah Program will enable Umrah performers and visitors to benefit from advanced medical services provided by public hospitals or private medical institutions spread all over the Kingdom. Transit passengers After Umrah Program to provide transit passengers with Umrah visas at the airports within the Kingdom to benefit from the short tourism trips during their stopover at the airports. After Umrah Program elements Setup Develop the organizational structure of the program and distribution of tasks to the staff and adopt the necessary plan to launch the program and set the date. 25
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