Tourism Chamber Denies Paid Access to Hajj Lottery Places

Egypt’s Chamber of Tourism Companies has denied claims circulating on social media that unsuccessful applicants in the tourism Hajj lottery are being charged money to secure a place on the successful applicants’ list.

The chamber said the allegations that citizens could pay to move from the unsuccessful applicant pool into an available pilgrimage slot were untrue.

It stressed that moving applicants onto the successful list and replacing pilgrims are handled in turn, rather than through payments to obtain priority.

These procedures are subject to strict rules and carried out under ministry supervision, the chamber said. Its statement sought to clarify how places are allocated following the tourism Hajj lottery.