MADINAH, The Umrah and Ziarah Forum 2024 began yesterday (April 22) at the King Salman International Convention Centre here in Saudi Arabia. It was officiated by Madinah governor Prince Salman bin Sultan Abdulaziz Al Saud. The three-day forum, organised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is aimed at improving the quality of Hajj and Umrah services in the Holy Land. With a record-breaking 13.55 million pilgrims performing the Umrah in 2023, this forum is a platform for local service providers to showcase to visitors the facilities and services provided by them such as transportation, hospitality, visa preparation and more. Additionally, the dialogue sessions, interactive workshops and an exhibition by local industry players are being held simultaneously in an effort to realise Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030's goals, which is to produce a vibrant society and thriving economy, and a country with high ambitions. Meanwhile, Ahmad Farez Abdul Wahab, a student from Malaysia, said his presence at the forum was due t o encouragement by his university in Madinah to provide themselves with the latest information, especially related to technology. 'There are about 190 students from Malaysia in the university, and they all want to attend this forum because we sometimes also help pilgrims who come here," he said. Mujahidin Muhd ??Siri, a travel agency operator in Indonesia, said this forum is the best programme for agency owners like himself to compare prices. "All services are displayed under one roof and certainly such a forum makes it easier for me to get the latest updates on the Umrah situation, especially after the end of the Hajj season soon," he said. "More interesting is that there are several new locations of interest in Madinah that are still unknown to pilgrims from abroad," he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency