SINGAPORE: 820 Muslims in Singapore, who were planning to visit Mecca next month, will have to give this year's Haj a miss.

Major redevelopment work in the holy Muslim city has forced Saudi Arabia to slash quotas for pilgrims worldwide, even though many had already booked Haj packages with local travel agencies.

They now have an option of a refund, but most prefer to postpone their pilgrimage till next year.

This latest development is a major setback to the S$30 million local Haj industry, and losses may chalk up to S$2 million this year.

Tour agencies are likely to lose what they have already paid for chartering aircrafts and other services in Saudi Arabia.

An appeal for the group of local pilgrims has been sent out to the Saudi authorities, but the results will only be known next week.

Every year, about 2,500 to 3,000 Singaporeans make pilgrimages to Mecca.


- CNA/so