Egypt Revokes Licenses of 16 Tourism Companies After Pilgrim Deaths in Mecca

In Summary

• Egypt has withdrawn the operating licenses of 16 tourism companies, citing their responsibility for the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims during the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
• These companies have been referred to the public prosecutor for further investigation.
• Medical and security sources report that at least 530 Egyptians died during this year’s hajj, although a crisis unit claims 31 deaths were due to chronic illnesses.
• The accused companies allegedly failed to provide essential services, including medical assistance and appropriate accommodations, contributing to the pilgrims’ deaths.
• The companies are also blamed for sending pilgrims on personal visit visas instead of hajj visas, which restricted access to necessary services and led to hazardous conditions.

DETAILS

Cairo, Egypt- Egyptian government has taken severe action against 16 tourism companies by revoking their licenses and referring them to the public prosecutor, following the deaths of numerous Egyptian pilgrims during the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. This decision was announced by a crisis unit established on Thursday and led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Medical and security sources reported that up to 530 Egyptian pilgrims died during this year's pilgrimage, a stark contrast to the 31 deaths confirmed by the crisis unit, which attributed these fatalities to chronic illnesses. The crisis has highlighted the significant discrepancies in pilgrim care and oversight.

The implicated tourism companies are accused of severe negligence, primarily for issuing personal visit visas instead of the necessary hajj visas. These visas did not permit access to Mecca's essential hajj services, forcing pilgrims to endure arduous conditions including long walks through the desert to avoid detection and arrest. This risky journey was made under extreme temperatures, which soared above 51 degrees Celsius (124 Fahrenheit), exacerbating the pilgrims' vulnerability.

Additionally, the Egyptian authorities criticized the companies for failing to provide "appropriate accommodation," which led to increased exhaustion among pilgrims due to the harsh weather conditions. The lack of medical services was another critical point of failure that contributed to the dire outcomes.

This series of events has cast a shadow over the management of pilgrimage travel and the responsibility of tour operators to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims under their care. The legal proceedings and investigations into these companies will seek to address these failures and prevent future tragedies.

As the situation unfolds, the Egyptian government's actions underscore a commitment to holding accountable those who jeopardize the lives of pilgrims through negligence or malpractice. This incident has also prompted a broader discussion on the need for stricter regulations and oversight of tour operators during religious pilgrimages, which attract thousands of devout Muslims from around the world annually.