27 Feb 2020: Saudi Arabia has placed a temporary ban on Umrah pilgrims in an attempt to ensure public safety by preventing the spread of the corona-virus.

It is one of the several precautionary measures announced early on Thursday as health authorities in the Kingdom closely monitor the spread of the virus. Tourist-visa holders from countries judged to pose a particularly high risk of spreading the virus will also be denied entry. From Pakistan Visitor Visa holder to Saudi and people wanting to get visa on arrival for Umrah will also not be allowed. Circular from Emirates Airlines, on the leading airlines for Umrah Zaireen from Pakistan is provided below.

 

Restriction on GCC Countries

In addition, Saudi nationals and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council nations will not be able to use a national identity card to travel to and from the Kingdom for the time being. Exceptions to this shall be granted to Saudis returning home, and citizens of GCC countries who are in the Kingdom and want to return to their home countries, provided that they left or entered the Kingdom using a national identity card.

Health authorities at entry points will verify which countries travelers visited before arriving in Saudi Arabia and apply all necessary precautionary measures.

How long will the current situation last

Saudi officials stressed that the restrictions are temporary and will be continuously reviewed by the health authorities. They reiterated the Kingdom’s support for and implementation of international efforts to limit the spread of the virus, and the Foreign Ministry urged citizens not to travel to the countries worst affected by the corona-virus.

Nearly 7 million Umrah pilgrims visit the Kingdom each year, the majority of whom arrive at airports in Jeddah and Madinah.

Some of the World’s beautiful and Wild places to visit.

Peek into the must visit destinations set by National Geographic : Wild Beautiful Place

Some say Molokai is what the Hawaiian Islands looked like 50 years prior; others say this is the place that the world ought to endeavor to look like later on. Untouched by mass advancement, this 10miles far reaching island has over a hundred miles of shoreline, concealed waterfalls, old remains, and the pleased local legacy of Hawaii.

The biggest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is wild in each feeling of the word. The striking cornflower blue water of the Athabasca River goes through this extend of wild in far western Alberta, cutting a way between rough gullies and welcoming travelers, climbers, and picture takers.

Early European adventurers announced Mount Roraima—an antiquated iron block formed pinnacle ascending out of the rain backwoods where Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela meet—difficult to reach. However, climb it you can, and the reward from the top is thick mists separating to uncover a scene of different plateaus and savanna pastures.

A parade of sensational rocks walk through Utah’s Canyonlands, where you can see the whole stop as one dramatic sculpture. It’s a three-dimensional play area of smooth shake, twin waterways, contract gulches, wildflower gardens, shrouded glades, and supernatural colors.

Consistently in the remote scopes of Peru, wild vicuñas are gathered together amid Gran Chaccu, a yearly shearing occasion established in Inca convention. Andean herders encompass these wild, since a long time ago necked cousins of llamas and alpacas, prized for their valuable fleece, considered one of the finest regular strands on the planet. Once the creatures are shorn, they are given up and bound, one by one, for the slopes, free once more.

Aroma Group has joined hands with Ibadat.pk to digitally advertise its Hajj and Umrah Pacakges.

Note: Service provider will always remain Aroma Travels and bookings and payments will be made directly to Aroma for its Hajj Packages. Ibadat.pk will be advertising packages only.

About Ibadat.pk

Ibadat.pk is a religious travel deals market place for Pakistani travelers with primary focus on scheduled group departures.

The platform aims to work with trusted religious tour operators who can provide superior services to clients. We specialize in finding scheduled group departures and time-limited deals offered by Umrah agents | Hajj Group Organizers | Ziarat Companies from around Pakistan and aim to use the power of bulk purchasing and groups (minimum sales required) to get better discounts from trade partners. Read more about how we select our Hajj Group organizers in the section at the end.

Scheduled Group Departure

Our primary focus is to find and offer scheduled religious group tour to Pakistani market. Scheduled group tours have a big advantage as travelling in a group will bring a definitive price advantage for the traveler. Furthermore, the relationships developed by the travelers in the group will last for a life time.

Note: Our group departures are timebound and if we are not able to gather enough people in the group (minimum 10 passengers required for the group to go ahead), the group departure will be cancelled and the passengers will be offered another group.

In simple terms: Groupon Getaways for Pakistani Religious Travelers. But our business model will be drastically differentiated from groupon in terms of service delivery as we don’t want to just become an advertising platform for religious travel companies – we aim to understand the requirements of religious travelers and send them to the Hajj Group Organizer, Umrah and Ziarat provider according to the customers needs.

 

From storing away tickets to lodging endless knowledge about their next detination, a traveler’s iPhone can be a solid source of help. In any case, with Apple’s new redesign a few people are not utilizing it to its maximum capacity. Read on for some simple tips and traps to take advantage of your iOS 10 gadget and to guarantee smoother travels.

Use Siri and Intelligent Photo Searching to Quickly Pull Up Your Vacation Photos

Flaunting those photographs of your recent beach escape or European getaway has never been simpler. iOS 10 has intelligent photo search where it utilizes area labels and face acknowledgment to pull up things like “dog” or “beach”. You can even request that Siri find photographs from a particular place, date or time span. Simply say, “Show me photographs from… ”

Get Better Service

Alright, this really works with any version of iOS yet it’s justified regardless of a note. There’s nothing more frustrating than having one dot of network or not getting at all in a place where you know there ought to be network. Be that as it may, a speedy reset of your system settings can offer assistance. A simple approach to do this is by turning your iPhone on flight mode for a few moments, then turning it back off. On the off chance that, that doesn’t work go into Settings>General>Reset>Reset Network Settings.

Call an Uber Through iPhone Maps

Searching for the best way to get to the next stop on your itinerary? Look it up in iPhone maps and you can order your Uber right then and there.

A Quick Change Will Save Battery Life

There’s nothing more awful than seeing that ‘Low Battery’ sign appear when there’s not a single charger to be found. For the travelers who get a considerable measure of warnings (think: email, Instagram, Snapchat… ) a fast change of iPhone position can spare some genuine battery life. With the iOS 10 Facedown Detection highlight, setting your telephone confront down will prevent it from illuminating when a notification comes through.

Turn Your Phone Into A Magnifying Glass

In the new iOS you can actually change your camera into a magnifying glass. Simply go to the accessibility options, Settings>General>Accessibility, and empower the Magnifier. From that point on, you simply need to triple-tap the Home secure to draw it.

View Recently Closed Tabs

Looking into for your next getaway and can’t exactly recall where you read about that incredible eatery or must-see spot? Utilize the iOS 10 as of recently shut tabs highlight to pull up your recent activity. Utilizing the plus icon at the base of the Tabs screen, press and hold the plus button to catch to see a rundown of as of late shut pages.

 

MANSEHRA:  As reported by Express Tribune, Pakistan intends to monitor all of its Hajj travelers by fitting them with lockets or armlets that can screen their movements and guarantee that they don’t disappear in-case of stampede or any other disaster.

The idea was drawn up in the wake of a series of tragedies during Hajj-2015, which left individuals looking for their loved ones.

“Every pilgrim will be tracked and monitored,” Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yusuf told media on Monday. After prolonged evaluation, the administration chose to issue the gadgets in order to protect Pakistani pilgrims from getting lost amid  major accidents.

The trackers will be connected to a centrally controlled observation system working 24/7 in both the holy cities of the Kingdom.

About regular reservations in regard to residential issues for pilgrims, Sardar Yusuf said that it had been concluded that every single Pakistani pilgrim would have their residences inside 500 meters of the sacred spots in Makkah and Medina.

For more news regarding Hajj, and booking Hajj applications online visit: www.aromatravel.com/hajj or contact at customerservice@aromatravel.com

 CAIRO: Cypriot police and Egyptian civil aviation authority have confirmed that an Egypt Air plane flying from Cairo to Alexandria was hijacked on Tuesday and diverted to Larnaca airport in Cyprus.

A statement released by the Egyptian aviation authority said that the MS181 is an Airbus and that it had 55 passengers on board and five crew members. A crisis team has been deployed to the airport.

Airport security sources said the passengers on board the flight included eight Britons and 10 Americans. Egypt Air said it had negotiated the release of all passengers on board the plane except for five foreigners and the crew. Cyprus state media said between 30-40 passengers were released from the plane.

Egyptian civil aviation and police sources say the plane was hijacked by one person, and that there are about 60 people on board. However a Cypriot official, on condition of anonymity under regulations, said there “seems like there’s more than one hijacker”. He added that there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.

An Egyptian civil aviation ministry statement said: “The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca.”

The Cyprus Foreign Ministry Secretary General told French TV that the hijacker has yet to make any demands.

A hijacker contacted the control tower at 8:30 am and the plane was given permission to land at 8:50 am, the police said.

Fifty-five passengers and seven cabin crew were on board the Boeing 737-800 traveling from from Dubai when the plane crashed and burst into flames early on Saturday morning. There were no survivors.

“A Boeing 737 slammed as it was coming into area. There were 61 individuals on board. They are all dead,” said a representative from the local services, cited by the authority TASS news office.

The accident happened at 0050 GMT, according to an official statement from the emergencies ministry.

Emirates-based Fly Dubai affirmed that flight FZ981 had crashed on landing. It said the plane had taken off from Dubai international air terminal at 18:20GMT and was headed for Rostov-on-Don. It was due to arrive at 22:40GMT.

Airline’s officials are in the process of verifying passengers on-board. Initial information reveals that 33 women, 18 men, four children and seven crew members were on board.

The airline authorities have confirmed the nationalities, as 44 Russian, 8 Ukrainian, two Indian, on one person from Uzbekistan.

Fly Dubai’s official Facebook page reports, “While we are still awaiting final confirmation, we have to report with great sadness that we there are no survivors,”

Talking about the incident, Fly Dubai CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “Our essential concern is for the families of the travelers and crew who were on board.

“Everybody at Fly Dubai is in shock and our hearts go out to the families and companions of those who passed away. We don’t yet know every single detail of the accident however we are working closely with the authorities to establish the cause.”

Emirates Holidays and Aroma Travel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which Aroma Pakistan will be the Preferred Agent for Emirates Holidays (EKH) in Pakistan. Aroma Group will be responsible for the distribution of Emirate’s holiday products with in Pakistan.

The MOU aims to provide competitively-priced, quality holiday experience. To support the EKH products, Aroma will leverage its experience and connections to further promote Emirates Holidays across Pakistan. With a focus on collaboration and innovation to drive the development of outbound tourism in the country, the partnership is the initial phase of a strategy aimed at exploring supply and distribution opportunities between the two companies. The partnership will enable Emirates Holidays to capitalize on the growing leisure market potential, and bring the Emirates Holidays brand to a wider audience.

“Our partnership with Emirates Holidays will combine the knowledge and expertise of both the companies to deliver quality holidays to Pakistani customers. This partnership will further drive the outbound industry in the country and we envisage setting new standards of quality products and services for the Pakistani traveler,” said Faisal Naeem, Head of Projects at Aroma Group.

“This is an important development not only for Emirates Holidays but also for discerning Pakistani travellers who desire quality holiday experiences around the world. Pakistan remains a key source market for Emirates Holidays – and these new appointments are a testament to our continued commitment to present a wide range of holiday options,” said Robin Parry –VP Emirates Holidays. “We envisage setting new standards of quality products and services, and offer the most memorable travel experiences across our vast network through Emirates.

Partnership with Aroma Travels

The milestone is achieved at a time when Aroma Group is strategically diversifying its operations to ensure it has variety of services to offer to its ever growing list of clients and individual customers. The selection of Aroma Travel was based on the criteria of Aroma’s enormous sales volume for Emirates Airline over the years and its strong history of growth in the tourism sector.

The purpose of the partnership is to boost worldwide tour and holiday packages that EKH offer with the best deals in town. Aroma Travels, will use the best of its abilities and resources to make this partnership prosper and grow to set new benchmarks in the travelling industry.

Pakistanis have a visa free access to only 29 nations, as indicated by a record that measures freedom of movement for various nationalities.

A report distributed by Henley and Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2016 positioned the Pakistani passport as the second most exceedingly terrible on the planet for worldwide travel. Pakistan positions 103 of an aggregate 104 nations and just positions better than Afghanistan.

Germany went ahead top in the international passport power list. Its natives can visit 177 nations without a visa. Sweden was in second place with 176 destinations and Finland, France, Italy, Spain and the UK imparted third place to 175. The US came in fourth with access to 174 nations without additional travel papers.

Meanwhile, India positioned 85 on the list, as its residents can visit 52 nations without a visa. Nationals of Afghanistan hold the slightest capable travel papers permitting them to get into only 25 nations without extra consent.

Henley and Partners said Pakistan and Afghanistan’s travel records were “the most exceedingly bad identifications on a nation’s score on the list, and the visas its natives are required to acquire for travel “reflect firmly on each country’s relation with others,” the report said.

Limitations, or absence of them, consider diplomatic connections between the nations, equal visa courses of action, security dangers, and the dangers of infringement to visa and migration rules, it included.

Further, Henley and Partners said that it treated e-visas and visas on landing the same as though no visa were required, inasmuch as acquiring the reports was clear — a straightforward expense and confirmation of lodging reservation and return ticket for occasion.

On the off chance that there were more conditions, for example, getting consular endorsement or a welcome letter for the application, then the record treated it like a prerequisite for a standard visa.

It is really frustrating that Pakistan is lumped together with Afghanistan in terms of security situation which causes it citizens to have limited visa free access to other nations in the world.

Aroma Group has partnered with ITP – International Travel Partnership, a global travel management company that has its foot holds in more than sixty countries. ITP, a Switzerland based company that has its headquarter situated in United Kingdom, has a vast network and have strong local partners all around the world. The company has wide range of products that it offers such as Air travel, accommodation, corporate business solutions, ground services, group travel, leisure etc. More over through its local partners, it caters to large audience and gives them the best travel support which is locally managed but globally supported by ITP travel partner companies.

Press Release:

International Travel Partnership (ITP) in Pakistan – increased coverage in S. Asia

International Travel Partnership, one of the world’s fastest-growing travel management consortium, is very pleased to announce the appointment of Aroma Travel as ITP’s travel partner in Pakistan. Aroma Travel is amongst the Top Five TMCs in Pakistan with broad national coverage and a strong focus on business travel.

Ian Epps, Director of Partnership Relations at ITP, said “Pakistan’s economy is growing steadily and many multinational companies have a presence there. Aroma Travel is a welcome addition to ITP’s coverage in the region and we look forward to working with them”.

Faisal Naeem, Director Projects at Aroma Travel, said,

“It is indeed a very exciting prospect to join hands with ITP. It provides Aroma Travel Service with a global affiliation and a very strong support network.  Being part of a global travel network makes it easier for Aroma Group to service its customers anywhere in the world. We look forward to having a long term and meaningful relationship with ITP and its partners. ”

 Overview of ITP – International Travel Partnership

ITP is one of the world’s fastest growing networked alliances of independent travel management companies with a strong portfolio of multinational corporate clients. It is a consortium in which most travel management companies are locally owned and managed and each is a market leader. Each ITP partner is able to combine the care and attentive service required on a local basis with a full travel management service for multinational clients.

About Aroma Travel

Operating since 1980, Aroma Group of Companies (AGC) is one of the largest travel business groups in Pakistan with stronghold in travel business along with other diversified businesses.  AGC is an unconventional travel services provider with provides innovative and cost effective travel management solutions to the market!

Aroma’s experience and proven business strategy combines excellence in client services, advanced technologies and global buying power to guarantee client-driven solutions. The travel group is based on professional and experienced staff, with a nationwide representation.

It is known for its personalized services and has the potential to address to audience at one time, a practice not much found in travel and tourism industry of Pakistan.

The partnership between Aroma Group & ITP will achieve new mile stones and become valuable partners to each other, guaranteeing growth as well as unfolding new avenues of travel and tourism industry.