New rules for hajj have left many frustrated about their pilgrimage experience

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/09/ [login to see] /saudi-arabia-travel-rules-hajj-frustrated-pilgrimage
Saudi Arabia finally reopened the holy city of Mecca to international travelers after a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. But a new set of travel restrictions and operating procedures produced a different set of problems for those who wished to make the journey.

Saudi Arabia reopened the country for 1 million people wishing to make the 2022 pilgrimage to Mecca. About 2 million people normally descend upon the city for hajj, but officials decided to limit the number of participants this year because of the ongoing pandemic.

But for many, the limited capacity was not the biggest obstacle in their way. Saudi Arabia implemented a new booking system requiring prospective-pilgrims to go through a single online platform, which many found to be difficult to navigate.