Tunisia's Hajj Season Kicks Off with Official Launch
The official launch of Tunisia's Hajj season has been announced, with Anis Mezghani, Director of Hajj and Umrah Management at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, confirming the departure of the first contingent of pilgrims from the capital's airport. The inaugural flight, carrying 270 pilgrims from the Bizerte governorate to Medina, marks the beginning of a massive airbridge consisting of 43 flights from various airports across the country.
Record Number of Pilgrims
This year's edition has seen a record number of 9,982 Tunisian pilgrims registered, with the majority being citizens selected from national lists, supplemented by a group of 1,000 pilgrims from the Tunisian diaspora community abroad. To oversee this large-scale mission, a delegation of 336 members has been mobilized, comprising religious guides, medical teams from the Ministry of Health, and representatives from the National Services Society and Residences.
Innovative Logistics
One of the major innovations this year is the launch of the "Pilgrim without Luggage" service, implemented in collaboration with Tunisair and Saudi Arabian Airlines. This logistical service allows pilgrims to travel light, with their personal belongings being taken care of from the outset and delivered directly to their accommodation, applicable to both the outward and return journeys.
Enhanced Facilities and Services
On the ground, the Tunisian authorities have prioritized proximity to facilitate the rites. Mezghani emphasized that the selected hotels have been rigorously chosen for their strategic location, with the farthest one being only 700 meters away from the sanctuary in Mecca, while in Medina, the maximum distance is reduced to 200 meters.
Improved Camp Conditions
The organization of the Arafat and Mina camps has also received special attention. The comfort of pilgrims has been enhanced by the allocation of designated beds, each identified by the pilgrim's name, photo, and ID number. According to Mezghani, all logistical and security arrangements have been finalized to ensure the smooth and serene execution of this Islamic pillar for the entire Tunisian delegation.
