Shirib wrote:Nobleman,
My initial post about Saudi making it a business might be more towards the local companies, restaurants etc. that are profiting a lot and no the Saudi government per se. But the government pretty much mandates that u get a hajj package to go which are given to private companies, which is a business model and this didn't always used to be the case.
Yeah no doubt hajj has become a big private enterprise. The government has to ensure travel operators as they act as custodians for the millions of people that come every year. Without tour operators it would become impossible for the saudis to protect its borders. Even with tour operators millions over stay.
They way it works is:
UK/US tour operators has a saudi kafil (guardian). Saudi Kafil underwrites the risk for all the people that come to hajj via his associated tour operator from the UK/US, by co signing the visa for them. As the kafil is taking a risk, as he is personally responsible for all the individuals he expects a big reward. This is where the profit kicks in. The saudi kafil is not any saudi citizen, but usually a big business man that can vouch for that many people and has the authority to do so.
Without the tour operators it would be borderline impossible for the saudis to protect their borders.
