TOURISM

Tourism in Saudi Arabia, Pilgrimage, Mecca

Tourism in Saudi Arabia, Pilgrimage, Mecca

Introduction

One of the biggest tourism journeys is observed at Mecca by Muslims. The Muslims say this journey as a spiritual tour that is mandatory on all those who can afford it physically and in monetary terms. Tens of thousands of people visit Mecca in the Islamic Holy Month of Zil'Hajj. The name given to this Holy journey is 'Hajj'. Muslims perform pilgrimage every year without any discrimination on the basis of colour, race or standard of living. All these Muslims perform the same ritual in the same sequence. There is a particular process to perform this Holy ritual. Muslims from all over the world joined together at Mecca, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalfah in a sequence (Johansson, 2012, pp. 1). As this is a sacred journey there are various processes and procedures which Muslims have to follow in order to complete the whole journey. This is journey including extensive travel, body work and spending money. Another thing which is associated with this journey is that Muslims demonstrate brotherhood, fraternity, discipline and peace to the rest of the world. The world can see Muslims from different ethnic background, region, colour; race and speaking different languages all perform the same tasks in the same manner. This also demonstrates that Islam is a peaceful religion which also promotes peace through its action.

Interest & Need

Most of People have in their mind a question that what is the interest of Muslims by this Holy gathering, it is to be mentioned here that this whole journey is getting expensive day by day because of continuous changes in the prices of travelling. Muslims visit Mecca for pilgrimages because of their belief. They believe that it is a way to please their creator 'ALLAH'. Another reason of their interest is that a pilgrimage is mandatory on all those Muslims who can afford, travelling and accommodation for the whole journey and capable of travelling. Every Muslims had to at least once in a life time perform 'Hajj', pilgrimage. It also promotes peace and unity amongst the Muslims and delivers the messages of peace to the people living throughout the world (Habib, Abdulmumini, Dalhat & Iliyasu, 2010, pp. 176).

Range of Pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia government does not charge for the Visa of pilgrimage but still they earn too much from this religious event. The government of KSA also introduces subsidized food, drink and shelters for the pilgrims. Different countries have different arrangements for the Muslims who want or wish to go for pilgrimage. India the government provides the Muslims with subsidized tickets to fly to Mecca. Various arrangement of subsidized food to take along with for the pilgrims is also offered by the government of various countries (Amanullah, 2009, pp. 75).

Objective of government & pilgrims

The main objective of the government of KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is to provide top notch facilities to the people who have come to perform pilgrim. It is not an east to cater the needs of people from all ...