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Hajj.edited

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The Economic Value of Hajj in KSA
Religious pilgrimages have existed since ancient periods and continue to be a central
pillar of contemporary societies. Hajj is the most prominent trip to the religion of Islam, where
followers travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to satisfy their spiritual needs. However, the annual
event directly influences the economic landscape of the host nation due to the demand for
support systems for millions of visiting supporters. People require hospitality resources for their
six-day stay as well as a network of related logistical services. Such elements inject substantial
revenue into the country's economy as well as prompting the government to invest in essential
utilities to support important religious tourism. Qurashi, investigates the material aspect of Hajj
in his article “Commodification of Islamic Religious Tourism: from Spiritual to Touristic
Experience,” focusing on the economic value of the feast to the local population. The yearly
commemoration of Hajj incentivizes the economy of Mecca and the entire Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, denoting the commercial influence of holy tourism.
The influence of religious travels is undeniable in contemporary societies. Qurashi
approaches the topic by highlighting the United Nation's prediction of 330 million pilgrims
across the world's religious groups. Expressly, the author acknowledges the contribution of Hajj
to the people of Mecca and the broader Saudi Arabia region, who earn income by servicing the
needs of visitors. Such transactions have been estimated to generate US$16 billion every year to

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KSA (Qurashi 90). Such an amount has effectively alleviated the living conditions of the locals
as well as improved the country’s economy significantly. In return, the government has engaged
in robust investment activities to capitalize on the event, injecting more than $35 billion in
developmental projects to enhance the experience of pilgrims (Qurashi 90). Other economic
activities include the dedication of $88 billion towards the planning of pilgrimage investments.
Such efforts translated into the completion of 343,000 religiously branded accommodation rooms
as of 2015 (90). With a progressive increase in annual income from divine visitation to KSA, the
government has set a target of 17 million worshippers by 2025. More people translate to
increased trade and revenue for the people of KSA. Such events as the Hajj have become an
essential pillar of KSA’s tourism economy.
This article was selected due to its detailed findings on the interaction between religious
activities and KSA’s commerce. While the main focus of the author was to study the
monetarization of religious festivals in Mecca, the paper offers insightful details on the economic
effect of such visitations on the region. A critical revelation of the paper is the magnitude of the
influence of pilgrimage on the economies of countries. Before the review of this article, I
understood that the traveling of worshipers to Mecca must boost trade in the region through
primary consumptions. However, the findings of the author on the significance of such religious
events to the government were informative. The national administration's identification of Mecca
as a vital tourism center and subsequent investment in branded commodities to attract Muslims
from all areas is enlightening. Such relationships not only demonstrate the opportunity for local
economies to grow by targeting holy tourism but also the potential of religious leaders to partner
or negotiate with authorities to enhance the experience of worshippers. Examples include the
introduction of specialized suppliers of unique items required to commemorate certain feasts or

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Surname Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date The Economic Value of Hajj in KSA Religious pilgrimages have existed since ancient periods and continue to be a central pillar of contemporary societies. Hajj is the most prominent trip to the religion of Islam, where followers travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to satisfy their spiritual needs. However, the annual event directly influences the economic landscape of the host nation due to the demand for support systems for millions of visiting supporters. People require hospitality resources for their six-day stay as well as a network of related logistical services. Such elements inject substantial revenue into the country's economy as well as prompting the government to invest in essential utilities to support important religious tourism. Qurashi, investigates the material aspect of Hajj in his article “Commodification of Islamic Religious Tourism: from Spiritual to Touristic Experience,” focusing on the economic value of the feast to the local population. The yearly commemoration of Hajj incentivizes the economy of Mecca and the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, denoting the commercial influence of holy tourism. The influence ...
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