Saudi Arabia faces a possible decline in revenue from the annual Muslim pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca, which begins today, as swine flu fears reduce the number of pilgrims.
Many countries have put restrictions on the pilgrimage. Tunisia has banned its citizens from making the journey while Libya has said those chosen by government lottery will go next year instead. Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, said only healthy people between the age of 25 and 65 could go.
