BANGKOK, 13 May 2012 – The Ministry of Culture has provided a workshop for leaders of Hajj religious pilgrims, to ensure they can better facilitate the holy mission to Saudi Arabia this year.
According to the new rules and regulations on Thailand’s Hajj Affairs, Hajj pilgrimage leaders usually representing tour companies and travel agents organizing the pilgrimage, must undertake a training course and own an identification card as a pilgrim leader. Detailed information relating to Hajj pilgrimage, such as rules and regulations on Hajj Affairs, immigration process, travel and accommodation, health care, procedural steps in performing Hajj and Arabian and English languages for use in daily life, are provided in the course.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), Pol Col Tawee Sodsong said the SBPAC is planning to improve and upgrade Thailand’s Hajj Affairs to the international standard within the next 3 years. In doing so, a large airport must be developed to accommodate Thai Muslim passengers from across the country while a hospital and a hotel should be available in the airport.
In addition, the SBPAC will push for those who are affected by the violence in the deep South to gain priority access to the pilgrimage, by allocating its quota of 200 people granted by the government each year for those people.
