How Saudi Arabia is turning religious tourism into a growth engine
Like millions of Muslims worldwide, when 72-year-old Ahmad traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj with his son and grandchildren, he was struck by how much had changed since his first pilgrimage in 1987.
Recalling his parents’ experiences, who had sailed from Pakistan and relied on acquaintances and makeshift shelters back in the 1960s, the change was even more startling.
From e-visa registrations to climate-controlled tents and real-time crowd monitoring, everything was more coordinated and streamlined as Saudi Arabia continues its attempt to strengthen its tourism sector, backed by the rising number of religious devotees.
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Muhammad Ali Bandial