The Saudi government said this month that pilgrims from Europe, the US and Australia could no longer book through travel agencies and instead had to apply via a lottery system.
A drastically reduced quota will permit a few thousand British Muslims to perform hajj this year, with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advising those with current bookings to "request refunds from tour operators/agents". Before the pandemic about 25,000 Britons were making the pilgrimage to Mecca annually.
Travel companies said the sudden change weeks before the start of the pilgrimage, from about 7 July, could cause them to go under.
The Saudi government said the change was part of efforts to crack down on fraudulent agencies.
The hajj, an obligation for able-bodied Muslims, usually draws about 2 million people a year. The Council of British Hajjis charity estimates the UK's hajj sector is worth £200m.
Since 2006 it has been compulsory to book hajj packages through licensed travel companies.
This story is from the June 27, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 27, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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