The Religious Affairs Department has clarified the regulations that Haj pilgrimage providers must follow, to protect the rights of pilgrims equally.

Twenty eight Haj pilgrimage service providers who visited the director-general Krisayapong Siri on April 29, 2014, made a request to replace pilgrims in the 2014 quota since some applicants had been affected by online registration on January 3, 2013. The request was not allowed since going on a Haj pilgrimage is an individual right.

Moreover, as of January 31, 2014, there are 28,862 applicants on waiting lists. Replacing Haj pilgrims would therefore affect applicants and names on waiting lists unfairly. The registration requirement allows four pilgrims per single operator, so they can apply this quota to a group of relatives wishing to travel together.

They also asked whether 37,000 baht of the air ticket cost can be paid directly to the carrier rather than via the Religious Affairs Department; the director-general said he would discuss this point with the carrier and relevant authorities.

He added that Haj pilgrimage affairs must comply with the intentions of the Haj Promotion Act B.E. 2524, while the Department is prepared to offer convenience to the Haj pilgrims. For more information, please contact Tel 0-2422-8895-6, Fax 0-2422-8897, or http://www.hajthailand.net