British Muslims in danger from conmen 

British MPs are warning over 25,000 British Muslims to beware of conmen posing as travel agents when booking their travel arrangements to participate in this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which will begin next month.

In the past, believers seeking to make one of the most important pilgrimages in the religion have been tricked out of their money and left without any accommodation, with no visas, without flight tickets, Travel insurance, and sometimes even with nothing at all as the bogus travel agents have absconded with cash and left nothing behind.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is aware of the problem and has enlisted the help of the country's MPs in order to publicise the situation.

"Unfortunately for some pilgrims, what should be the occasion of a lifetime is turning into a nightmare. It's not acceptable and we want to put an end to it," said the consumer minister, Gareth Thomas.

A London travel agent was brought to justice in April this year after leaving one traveller with no accommodation and transport and others with no visas.

Travellers are being urged to contact travel agents who have been accredited by the Saudi embassy or who are well known and credible, like the ABTA. It is also suggested that travellers have the details of their travel arrangements set out in writing before they leave.




Follow these links to find out more or to get a quote on Travel insurance, UK airport parking, UK airport hotels or UK airport lounges.



Jennifer Jones Editorial


08/11/2007


Related Travel News:

 
 



Read more UK travel news