Egypt Looks To Crack Down On Tourism Companies

Egyptian officials are looking to crack down on tour companies after the illness of more than 500 people who were on a pilgrimage to attend the Hajj in Mecca.

Egypt took away the operating license of 16 travel companies that it said was responsible for the illness of 530 people who were attending the annual religious ceremony in Saudi Arabia through apathy and indifference. 

The special task force led by prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said there were at least 31 deaths due to chronic illness.

The Hajj is a significant annual ceremony. 

Officials said that the tour companies involved did not provide medical or other services to the pilgrims. It is also alleged that the pilgrims were sent to Saudi Arabia on the wrong visa. The pilgrims were apparently traveling with personal visas instead of a special visa that would allow access into Mecca.

Some of the pilgrims had to walk through the desert to enter the holy city. There were times when the temperature approached 120 degrees or more. 

Restrictive rules in Saudi Arabia also make it difficult for women to travel there.

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