More than 70 Umrah travel agency entities, representing more than\nthree million pilgrims worldwide, took part in a tour of Makkah. The aim\nwas to expand the historical and cultural experience within\ninternational Umrah packages.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday (25\/8\/2026), the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy\nSites, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, organised the\nfamiliarisation tour.<\/p>\n
The tour was designed to help Umrah companies, overseas agents, and\ntravel operators develop more diverse programmes by combining Umrah\nworship with curated visits to various historical and cultural sites in\nMakkah.<\/p>\n
The programme included visits to four destinations and four optional\nexperiences, allowing participants to see first-hand the content,\nservices, and activities that could be incorporated into their\nitineraries.<\/p>\n
The tour also introduced participants to a number of sites and\nlandmarks in Makkah, including the \u2018Discover Makkah\u2019 platform and its\nrole in supporting destination planning.<\/p>\n
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), organisers said the tour\nwas designed to demonstrate various ways of enhancing the pilgrim\nexperience by expanding the range of activities beyond the core\nreligious rites.<\/p>\n
The goal is to help companies develop programmes that combine Umrah\nwith historical and cultural exploration, with options tailored to\ndifferent interests, according to the report.<\/p>\n
The tour also facilitated direct interaction between participating\ncompanies, destination managers, and tourism experience providers,\nallowing them to explore cooperation opportunities.<\/p>\n
Officials said such coordination could support the creation of more\ncompetitive products while improving marketing in international\nmarkets.<\/p>\n
As an initial result, several companies began discussions to develop\nnew products and packages related to the Umrah experience.<\/p>\n
As part of the follow-up, participating companies were connected with\nSaudi tour guides proficient in various languages, thereby expanding\noptions for visitors from diverse markets and cultural backgrounds.<\/p>\n
Organisers said this effort also strengthens the role of national\ntalent in introducing the history, culture, and various sites of\nMakkah.<\/p>\n
The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen integration\nwith the Umrah, travel, and tourism sectors, and to build a network of\npartners capable of developing and marketing products and experiences\nrelated to Makkah.<\/p>\n
It aims to diversify options for Umrah pilgrims and strengthen\nMakkah\u2019s presence as a destination in programmes offered by\ninternational companies.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saudi-arabia-helps-global-operators-diversify-umrah-packages-1787712723", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }