Egypt Suspends Licenses of 16 Tour Companies Following Hajj Deaths
Cairo, June 22, 2024 — In response to the tragic deaths of hundreds of pilgrims in the sweltering desert heat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the Egyptian government announced on Saturday the suspension of licenses for 16 tour companies. These companies facilitated travel for some pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
This year’s pilgrimage witnessed a death toll of at least 450 individuals, with temperatures soaring between 108°F to 120°F (42°C to 49°C). However, the actual number of fatalities may rise as more accurate reports emerge from various governments. Egypt has officially recognized 31 deaths among its pilgrims to date.
The Egyptian authorities cited the failure of these travel companies to provide essential services, including medical care and suitable accommodation, causing significant discomfort and exhaustion among the pilgrims due to the extreme heat.
According to Reuters, some travel agencies may have bypassed official registration for the pilgrimage to avoid the high costs associated with package tours. These companies are also being criticized for allowing pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia on personal visas rather than Hajj visas, which include medical care and access to holy sites.
Mahmoud Qassem, a member of the Egyptian Parliament, accused the tour companies of abandoning the pilgrims and ignoring their pleas for help by turning off their mobile phones. Complaints also surfaced regarding the lack of access to sufficient cooling stations and water amidst the intense heat.
The influx of unregistered visitors, combined with the extreme desert temperatures, may have overwhelmed Saudi Arabia’s preparation for such a large gathering. Tunisia’s government has indicated that the death toll among its pilgrims is expected to rise from the 49 already reported, as more information about those traveling on tourist visas becomes available.
This year’s Hajj, which saw more than 1.8 million Muslims travel to Mecca—1.6 million of whom were from outside Saudi Arabia—marks another tragic event in the history of the pilgrimage. Previous incidents include a stampede in 2015 that resulted in over 2,200 deaths. In recent years, rising temperatures have led to increasing instances of heat stress and fatalities among pilgrims.
Hager Al-Hakeem contributed reporting from Luxor, Egypt.
Sources:
- Reuters: Egypt cracks down on tourism companies after Hajj deaths
- The New York Times: Saudi Arabia hajj pilgrimage heat death
- The New York Times: Death toll from Hajj stampede
- Times of Israel: Heat stress during Hajj
