יו"ר הוועדה הדתית מעיר על דרישות הרישוי למפעילי עלייה לרגל בעומרה – דאגות מונופול וקרן מילואים של מיליון דולר
Sudjon Tushbayev, the chairman of the religious affairs committee, addressed concerns regarding the new $1 million licensing requirement for Umrah tour operators, emphasizing that the amount is necessary to cover the potential costs of stranded pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Speaking at an international conference in Tashkent on October 15, Tushbayev responded to questions from Kun.uz regarding the updated licensing conditions for Umrah service providers.
"We are not monopolizing the market. We will announce a tender and select all tour operators who meet the required criteria and capabilities," Tushbayev said. He clarified that the $1 million guarantee is intended to cover the expenses of up to 1,000 pilgrims who may face unforeseen challenges in Saudi Arabia. According to him, this measure stems from past experiences where around 15,000 Uzbek pilgrims were stranded, and the previous $100,000 guarantee was insufficient to repatriate them.
When asked if only one company will be chosen to handle Umrah services after meeting the new financial requirement, Tushbayev dismissed this perception and stated: "This is being misinterpreted on social networks. We are not creating a monopoly. Whether 10 or 15 companies meet the critical criteria, all accredited tour operators will be chosen. This does not mean that only the Muslim Council or four to five companies out of 15 or 20 will remain. There will be no price hikes, only higher-quality services."
Addressing concerns that the $1 million requirement could force tourism operators to raise prices for Umrah packages, Tushbayev acknowledged that there might be some attempts, but noted that in the past, 77 companies were licensed, and many others operated unlawfully without proper licenses. He emphasized the importance of providing quality services and stated: "We are not doing this to create a monopoly. The focus is to ensure that our citizens receive quality services, including medical care and reliable guidance during Umrah."
Tushbayev also emphasized that citizens can still independently obtain visas and perform Umrah without any restrictions. "There are no obstacles to this. The Nusuk program of the Hajj Ministry and the Saudi Umrah allows citizens to apply for a visa online from their homes. They can travel on direct flights or via Dubai or Turkey. There is no objection to this option."
Tushbayev also mentioned concerns about the ideological influence on Uzbek pilgrims and stated that the committee is working to ensure that competent religious officials accompany citizens to provide proper guidance and support during their pilgrimage journey by foot.
