Which country's pilgrims spent the most at Hajj and Umrah seasons? Where does Pakistan stand
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ISLAMABAD - Millions link of Muslims link visit link the two holy cities of Makkah link and Madinah annually, with more than 6 million link umrah visas issued this year so far, but their shopping needs to be stimulated with a greater offering of specialty products that showcase Saudi Arabia link and the two holy cities.
Egyptians top link the list of spending, according to the head of the tourism and hotels committee at the Makkah link Chamber link of Commerce link and Industry link Aziz Awliyaa.
"Egyptians top link the list of spending, followed by Iraqis, Algerians and Turks," in an interview with Arab link news link he said, adding there was a connection between the pilgrim's economy back home and his or her purchasing power and aspirations when in Saudi Arabia link.
"A pilgrim spends an average of $700 during a period of 10 days, five days spent in Madinah and five days spent in Makkah link." Saad Jameel Al-Qurashi, the former chairman of the National Committee for Hajj link and Umrah at the Makkah link Chamber link of Commerce link and Industry link, said that different nationalities spent different lengths of time in the Kingdom.
"Indian, Pakistani link and Bangladeshi nationals prefer to stay for 30 days, while some Egyptian pilgrims prefer to stay up to 20 days," he told.
He said that pilgrims spent up to $1,000 in a 10-day period.
Pilgrim spending in Makkah link and Madinah needs to be examined and encouraged, Hajj link and Umrah sector experts told Arab link News.
Data from link the Hajj link Ministry, released earlier this month, showed that the largest number of pilgrims are from link Pakistan link (1,353,625) followed by Indonesia link (881,459), India link (579,443), Egypt link (405,750) and Turkey link (279,038).
Al-Qurashi said that one way to cater for a diverse international audience was to globalize food link and beverage outlets.
"There is a need to open foreign restaurants in Makkah link to give pilgrims the opportunity to leave their hotels, visit link these restaurants and taste dishes in a modern setting that stimulates the hospitality sector and supports diversity for more than 150 nationalities that meet in one place during Ramadan link explained that purchasing power was not just determined by nationality or the economic situation in a pilgrim's home country.
There was also a desire to find added value, he said. "Pilgrims are keen to buy link items that they do not find in their countries and that imposes the challenge of diversifying markets link so they cater to the pilgrims' various requirement."
