Dhaka, Aug. 21 -- Travelport has announced Asia to record the greatest growth in flight bookings made through GDS to airports around Mecca for Hajj this year in terms of volume, with bookings up by 11,284 (+5 per cent). On a country level, the greatest growth came from Bangladesh, with bookings up by 13,906 (+171 per cent).

Overall, bookings made in Asia represented 64 per cent of global total.

Bangladesh is one of the five countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Tunisia) benefiting from the Mecca Route initiative, a new service offering immigration pre-clearance for pilgrims at their points of embarkation.

As part of its study, Travelport analysed bookings made through all GDSs to King Abdulaziz International Airport,...