More details of the “Post-Umrah Tourism” package were unveiled at a workshop organized by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The scheme, a brainchild of the chamber, has been accorded approval from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) after getting the go-ahead from the Ministries of Interior and Haj, Passport Directorate, and other agencies concerned.

Ziyad Farsi, deputy chairman of the chamber and spokesman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah, said that under the scheme, those who come to perform Umrah would be allowed to stay for some more time after the expiry of their visa as part of a special tourism package.

“An extensive workshop to shed more light on various aspects of this giant scheme will be held after Eid Al-Fitr. In the beginning, this type of religious tourism visa will be restricted to pilgrims from a limited number of countries such as Singapore, Malaysia as well as American and European countries,” he said, adding that the scheme would be expanded to pilgrims from other countries in later phases after addressing its demerits.

Farsi said the SCTA had invited Umrah companies licensed to operate in the foreign pilgrims’ sector to submit their applications to obtain a license for the Post-Umrah Tourism service. About 30 Umrah companies have started preparations to submit applications for the license.

“In the workshop, SCTA made a video presentation of the scheme, explaining its goals, vision, message, organizing mechanism and working pattern,” he said. Farsi added that the chamber and the National Committee for Haj and Umrah would play a major role in effectively implementing the scheme.

A Transport Ministry official meanwhile said that more than four million people including pilgrims will benefit from the first phase of the Haramain Railway linking the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. "This number is expected to double by the completion of the second phase,” said the official.

“The railway will ease transportation between the two holy cities,” they said. The railway will pass by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.

“Such a rail project is essential in a situation where the number of pilgrims are increasing every year,” the official said, adding that about 30 percent work on the project has been completed.

The railway will provide tourist access to religious and historical places in the region including Badr and Uhd. It will also increase employment opportunities for Saudis.

“The ministry wants to adopt all modern means of technology available in the construction of the rail project,” the official said.

Trains on the railway will run at a speed of 320 km/hour outside the city and 100 km/hour inside the city. It will reduce travel time between Jeddah and Makkah to 30 minutes and between Makkah and Madinah to two hours.