Official Consumer watchdogs have asked the Saudi Arabian authorities to cut visa restrictions on Muslim worshippers, who often embark on Hajj pilgrimages toMecca.
The ban on individuals applying for visa has resulted in tour operators ripping off Muslims, said members of theBirmingham’s public protection committee.
Trading Standards officials said out of 40 online and High Street travel agencies (Hajj package tours) only four complied with all of the package travel regulations.
The move came after Chowdhury Ahmed, who owns Helenic Travels inCoventry Roadin Small Heath, was sentenced for 15 months after scamming a family into paying £10,000 for their pilgrimage.
The Nooris family were promised five-star food and hotel, but instead were provided with a cockroach infested hotel and were forced to purchase food from street vendors.
Trading Standards told reporters that there are many other Hajj tour operators who could be scamming unknown travellers.
They found that 13 firms out of 17 claiming an Air Travel Organiser Licence (ATOL) were false and 16 claiming to be International Air Transport Association registered were genuine.
However, the committee also told reporters that pilgrims often did not report these scams because they brought the package from a family friend or saw their problems as a spiritual issue.
