The Islamic holy city of Mecca is embarking upon a project worth 23 billion riyals (184 billion baht) to upgrade its infrastructure that is sagging under the weight of 10 million religious pilgrims annually, especially during the periods of Hajj and Umrah Ramadan.

Arguably the most important global city in the rapidly rising concept of religious tourism, Mecca plans to create new housing suburbs, improve the transport, water and sanitation systems in preparation to receive an estimated 20 million pilgrims by 2030. In 2008, Mecca had an indigenous population of 1.7 million. It is located 73 kilometres inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of 277 metres above sea level. Muslims from all around the world visit it every year to perform the Hajj (the main pilgrimage) and the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).

Speaking at a conference on Islamic tourism in Kuala Lumpur last week, Fareed Eshky, a Saudi consultant with Business Enterprise Partnership, said foreign pilgrims for Hajj had risen from 406,295 in 1970 to 1.26 million in 2000 and 1.61 million in 2009. Adding to these numbers are the millions of local Saudis and foreign Muslims who perform the Umrah at other times of the year. Muhammad Al Hamayel, the Saudi ambassador to Malaysia, said his mission issued 93,497 visas just for Malaysians to perform the Umrah last year, up from 52,696 in 2006.

Apart from the Hajj, the other peak pilgrimage period is before and during the fasting month of Ramadan. Essam Kalthoum, managing director of Bawabat Makkah Co, noted that Mecca had a captive market. "There is only one Mecca. All indications are that demand is growing and we need to accommodate this demand," he said.

bangkokpost.com