| Azlan Othman |
THE first group of six intending Umrah pilgrims left for Madinah, Saudi Arabia yesterday under a package offered by local travel agency Continental Yachting Sdn Bhd.
The Haj Affairs Department had announced in February that Continental Yachting is one of the four operators authorised to offer Haj and Umrah packages for the period of three years starting this year.
Haji Awang Qisti Fadhullah, Operations Officer of Continental Yachting who is accompanying the family group told the Bulletin that the pilgrims will fly directly to Madinah via Kuala Lumpur using Royal Brunei Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
“This direct trip saves time by up to six hours and with less hassle as they don’t have to use bus to go to Madinah from Jeddah (where intending Umrah pilgrims normally begin their journey from). People prefer to go directly to Madinah nowadays.
Haji Awang Qisti Fadhullah (5th from right) with the family group poses for a group photo prior to their departure. – AZLAN OTHMAN
“Umrah packages have been very popular nowadays. Although Continental Yachting is still new to offer Umrah service, we will try to give better service and price,” Haji Awang Qisti said.
Continental Yachting, he added, offers two Umrah packages – economy and premium. The twin sharing economy package costs around $4,200 while for triple sharing the cost is $4,100.
Hotel accommodation is about 50-60 metres from the Madinah mosque and Makkah mosque is also very close.
The premium package costs around $5,100 and the hotel accommodation is even nearer in Makkah where Masjidil Haram is only 20-30 metres away.
Haji Awang Qisti, who has nearly 20 years of experience in handling Umrah and Haj packages, said during the holy month of Ramadhan, the package prices would be higher.
“And due to the high price to perform Umrah during Ramadhan period, some opt to perform the obligatory Haj (which is performed once in a life time for physically fit and financially sound Muslims) instead.
“But Bruneians now prefer to go during the Muslim month of Syaaban (a month before Ramadhan) when the Kaabah gate is open,” he added.
“Hopefully in December, we plan to take travellers to Dubai after performing their Umrah and to go to Morocco in the near future, if we can get a good price.”
The other authorised Umrah/Haj package operators are Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, Straits Central Agencies (B) Sdn Bhd, and Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd.
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