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Rabat – As a part of preparations for Hajj 2022, Morocco’s Exchange Office sent a letter to the Professional Group of Banks of Morocco (GPBM), detailing the fees that travel agencies should charge Moroccan pilgrims.
The fees fall under three categories depending on the travel package, and the type of accommodation subsumed.
For premium packages, Morocco’s Exchange Office specifies that they should not exceed the MAD 104,000 ($10,506) per pilgrim, while basic packages will cost MAD 72,000 ($7,273). Meanwhile, social packages are set at MAD 52,000 ($5,253).
The fees cover travel and accommodation for pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia, the Office indicated, adding that the funds will be paid to Saudi providers via the Massar platform.
The Office regulates travel fees for pilgrims annually “to ensure optimal coordination between all different entities (banks, travel agencies, administrations, etc),” a statement indicates.
Travel agencies concerned with the regulatory fees are those authorized by Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism to organize the pilgrimage to Mecca this year.
“In the event that the amount of the agencies’ foreign currency commitments in respect of these accommodation costs is greater than the above-mentioned allocations, the difference may be made up by using the available funds in the [pilgrims’] account in convertible dirhams or in the travel agency’s foreign currency,” the Office explained.
It added that settlement of said difference must also be carried out on the Massar platform, with the pilgrims’ consent.
Morocco’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that pilgrims will have to pay MAD 63,0000 ($6,405) to perform Hajj 2022, a cost many considered to be extremely price
Hajj season will start around July, with an expected number of one million pilgrims permitted to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.
