@ Halal | May-June 2024

There are critical requirements in Islamic tourism and hospitality

BY DR MOHMED RAZIP HASAN

PREAMBLE

During this period , Muslims who have met and fulfilled the religious requirements , travelling terms and conditions are expected to perform their hajj in Makkah ( Mecca ), Saudi Arabia .

It is one of the five pillars of Islam , an obligation on every Muslim at least once in their lifetime if they have the means and capacity to do so , physically , emotionally and financially .

I congratulate those pilgrims performing their hajj this year , 2024 / 1445H . May Allah bless and reward them with Hajj Mabrur ( accepted ).

To all Muslim readers , I wish you Eid ul Adha ( Selamat Hari Raya Haji ) that falls insha-Allah on 10 Zulhijjah 1445H or on 16th or 17th June 2024 ( subject to the announcement by the authority ) and I seek your kind forgiveness .

In this article , Insha-Allah , I use the hajj and umrah as a case study to illustrate the importance of reputation and resilience management in Islamic or religious tourism .

HAJJ AND UMRAH PILGRIMAGE – CASE STUDY

Performing Hajj and Umrah involves inseparable travel , tourism , and hospitality elements . It requires proper planning and early preparation , physically , mentally and psychologically .

This is a sacred journey for a particular purpose , even though the basic travel arrangements are no different from an ordinary trip but with more scrutiny . The cost of performing the hajj and umrah is high despite advancements in technology and means .

A lot of investment is still being made in pilgrimage convenience . During the Hajj season alone , we still see queues for checkin , formality requirements , passport and visa screenings , and safety and security measures .

There is extensive use of facilities – airport terminals , airlines , tour coaches , trains , frequent engagement with tour leaders , check-in and out of hotels , lines at café , restaurants and eating outlets , ATMs and money changers , frequent transfers and visits to holy and historical sites , and not to forget shopping at modern malls and bazaars , especially for perfumes , dates , apparels and religious items .

From my experience as a pilgrim , one has to do a lot of physical movement and travel to and from sacred places like Arafat , Muzdalifah , Mina . They must also perform the circular row ( tawaaf ) around Ka ’ abah in the Grand Mosque ( Masjid al Haram ) and Sa ’ ee between Safa and Marwah , prayers ( saalah ) and spiritual activities throughout the hajj season .

While during umrah , almost similar activities and movements occur in Mekkah and Madinah , especially at Masjid Nabawi and Mount Uhud , Masjid Kuba and surroundings . The sweltering weather , quality of services , logistics , crowd controls , cleanliness , language barriers , health and tiredness and enforcement and patrol are among the significant challenges that pilgrims may not be familiar with .

These are the tests for an individual pilgrim , hajj and umrah operators , service providers , officials and the host country to cope and succeed .

Ultimately , all these journeys , activities and challenges of duration between two weeks and two months ( depending on travel arrangement ) require knowledge , understanding , self-motivation & leadership , guidance , energy , physical fitness , wellness and , mindfulness and mental toughness , patience and resilience , and more importantly , always trust in Allah SWT and ask for His guidance and protection through prayers , supplications and invocations , among others to reap the best reward .

In other words , hajj and umrah are the primary examples of how Islamic tourism and hospitality operate in religious settings in Makkah and Madinah . Nonetheless , hajj and umrah have their challenges and merits .

Crisis planning and management are critical and crucial due to the massive size of local and international pilgrimages of one to three million a year ( subject to change ), massive provision and delivery of resources for pilgrimages and support services . It needs a resilient team , a robust and well-tested support system and effective leadership to manage various premises , facilities , security and logistics and human behaviours involving different nationalities , backgrounds and attitudes .

I envisage that with Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 in place , many things related to Hajj and