Pilgrims heading home from the Haj journey are providing a temporary boost to businesses along the Taif-Riyadh road that have been hit by falling numbers over swine flu fears. Over the past 48 hours scores of pilgrims have been stopping at rest houses, restaurants and gas stations on the road. However, it is likely to be a short-lived help to those struggling to make ends meet in the wake of the local recession, according to some businesspeople. Mansour Al-Otaibi, the owner of a gas station, said it will offer him temporary help. “The day of the pilgrims' Nafrah and their passing through the Taif-Riyadh Road is considered part of the season to [make some money] for the owners of rest houses and gas stations. This can help to compensate for the losses they incurred during the recession over the last two months, after the end of the Umrah season.” He pointed out that the rest houses and gas stations registered a drop in profits this year during the Haj and Umrah season because many pilgrims were afraid of contracting swine flu. Abdullah Al-Sultan said his profits had dropped by 25 percent compared to last year as a result of the huge drop in the number of pilgrims. He said the locations on the Taif-Riyadh Road had seen moderate activity during the past 48 hours. He denied claims that businesses were exploiting pilgrims by charging high prices for services.