Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of "Nusuk," the nation's first-ever platform for booking, planning, and advice for Umrah pilgrims visiting its holy sites. It was also reported that the first direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad to the Muslim holy city of Madinah will begin operating.
The announcements were made at the 'Nusuk Roadshow' on Wednesday, which Saudi Arabia's minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, attended.
Umrah and Hajj
Unlike the five-day Haj, which is mandatory for all Muslims who are financially and physically capable of making the journey, Umrah is a "lesser" and optional pilgrimage to Muslim holy places that can be done at any time of the year.
As part of the strategy to improve cooperation and simplify travel arrangements for Umrah pilgrims, Al-Rabiah is in India accompanied by a large delegation of government officials and representatives of private tour and hospitality businesses. The government of Saudi Arabia claims that the third-largest source of religious tourism is India. The recently released 'Nusuk' applications, which offer travel packages ranging from four hours to twenty days, will aid in streamlining the pilgrims' Umrah journey procedures, Free Press Journal reported.
The primary goal of Wednesday's roadshow was to acquaint tour operators with the new facilities. In addition to introducing the Nusuk application, the Tasheer e-visa was also discussed at the event.
Saudi Vision 2030
The minister's visit is a component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Saudi Vision 2030," a goal to diversify the kingdom's revenue streams by lowering its reliance on petroleum exports and transforming its social and economic structures.
An official statement issued by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in India said, “The visit (of Al-Rabiah) aims to introduce the array of facilities available to the guests of Allah from India, emphasizing the distinctive benefits of the electronic Umrah visa and the Nusuk platform, reinforcing the commitment to providing exceptional services”.