Hyderabad, Feb. 15 -- With an alarming rise in the cost of flight tickets and hotel accommodation in the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the Umrah pilgrimage, Hyderabad's travel agencies and tour operators have reported fewer bookings this year.

Prior to the holy month of Ramzan, Hyderabad's tour operators experiences a surge in business as families seek services for the Umrah pilgrimage. The tour operators usually charge between Rs. 90,000 and Rs. 1, 20, 000 per person for the trip.

"In Ramzan, flight prices, local transportation, food, accommodation, and foreign exchange see a significant increase. The rate per person this year is around Rs. 1.70 lakh. Due to the price escalation, people from Hyderabad are hesitant to go for the...