MP Calls On Local Hajj Pilgrims To Be Wary Of Dodgy Tour Operators
25 November 2008
Roger Godsiff MP is urging local Muslims intending to go on pilgrimage to be wary of disreputable Hajj Tour operators.
As local Muslims prepare to go on the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, Roger Godsiff MP wants to ensure pilgrims know their rights and avoid scams that have left some pilgrims in previous years disappointed and angry.
It is also important that pilgrims who find fault with aspects of their Hajj travel arrangements, contact their local Trading Standards Department for advice when they return home.
Local MP Roger Godsiff said:
“People who wish to go on pilgrimage have, in most cases saved long and hard for the opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime journey. The last thing they want is for it to turn out to be a less-than-memorable experience or, in the worst-case scenario, for them not to be able to go at all.”
“Given the costs involved, typically £2,500 or more, and the special place that the pilgrimage has in the Muslim faith, I urge Muslims to be extremely careful in deciding who they give their money to."
Consumer Minister, Gareth Thomas said:
“When you reserve your place on a pilgrimage tour, you should be able to have complete peace of mind. I would therefore urge all who are intending to go to make sure that their tour operator is ATOL-registered before they hand over any money.
“I am pleased to say that over the course of our campaign to raise awareness of the issues this year, the CAA has reported an increase in the number of applications for ATOL from Hajj tour organisers”.
The CAA’s Deputy Director of Consumer Protection, David Moesli, said:
“Every year tens of thousands British Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. If you are one of these it is important to ensure your arrangements are ATOL protected so that you don’t lose out if the company you’ve booked with goes bust. On the CAA website you can use the Check an ATOL facility to check that your Hajj tour operator is ATOL protected.”
