The Elaf Group of Companies, a leading Saudi Arabian travel and tourism company, recently conducted a seminar outlining precautions to be taken against the AH1N1 virus in preparation for the upcoming period of Hajj and Umrah.

Participants were informed of general precautions to be taken to avoid contracting the flu and measures to avoid the spread of the disease. They were also instructed on special safeguards against the outbreak during the period of Hajj and Umrah.

“The Hajj and Umrah period is very important to the Muslim community, but this year it also poses risks to people who are uninformed about and unprepared for the AH1N1 virus,” said Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Economic Development Company.

“We want to ensure that our employees and customers are highly knowledgeable about the steps they need to take to avoid contracting and spreading this flu. The season can still be celebrated safely and productively as long as we strictly follow health guidelines and keep constantly updated on developments related to the virus,” he added.

The seminar is the latest among several initiatives undertaken by the Elaf Group to address the operational effects of the AH1N1 outbreak.

The Group has also offered SR510,000 ($136,000) to support its Egyptian operators in face of the health crisis.

Elaf has been actively campaigning for hotels to inform their employees and customers on how they can better protect themselves against the health threat through seminars, meetings and special training modules. – TradeArabia News Service