Fairmont Raffles Hotels International – Makkah (FRHI Makkah) has announced it is to participate in Arabian Travel Market to tap into the burgeoning religious tourism market.
The company is to use its stand to help its properties – across the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel brands – in the KSA city offer an insight into the importance of their role in the religious hub.
A study from Pew Research Centre has estimated that the Muslim population will grow from its 1.6 billion level in 2010 to 2.2 billion in 2030, at an annual growth rate of 1.5%. Relious visas issued for KSA grew by 11.3% between 2010 and 2011, to 9.5 million, according to the Ministry of Hajj website.
Khaled Yamak, group director of communications and business development, FRHI Makkah, said: “With our properties affording unrivalled views of, and access to, the Holy Ka’aba and the Masjid al-Haram – the holiest sites in Islam – our central Makkah location is ideal for pilgrims and Umrah performers visiting the city to fulfil their spiritual duties.
“In fact, our properties - offering 2,600 rooms and suites – make-up 40% of accommodation options in the central Makkah area. Furthermore, our average occupancies for our two operating hotels peaked at 90% in Q1 of 2012 – the highest to date since opening.”
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities aims to attract 88 million visitors by 2020, through religious, domestic and business travel.
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