A NEW open market for Haj excursions appears to have led to significant price reductions and increased accessibility for Bahraini pilgrims, with the average cost now ranging from BD400 to BD1,000.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Nawaf Al Maawda told MPs during a three-hour-long open debate yesterday that new Haj policies were aimed at easing pilgrimages and not securing excessively profitable income for operators .