ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The heartbreaking death of a Prince George’s County couple during a trip abroad has prompted a Maryland lawmaker to take action to better protect travelers from the state.
Last summer, Alieu and Isatu Wurie embarked on a long-awaited Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, through a $20,000 all-inclusive package booked with a Maryland travel agency. Their children, Alieu and Saida Wurie, described their excitement, calling it a lifelong dream. However, their journey quickly turned into a nightmare.
The Wurie family said problems began almost immediately, with visa complications, unreliable transportation, and a lack of promised accommodations for the extreme desert heat. Despite assurances of proper lodging, the couple was forced to walk long distances in sweltering 120-degree temperatures.
Not long after arriving in Mecca, the Wuries went missing. Two days later, Saudi authorities confirmed their deaths but did not provide details on the cause.
Their children have since been advocating for change, and their story caught the attention of Prince George’s County Delegate Adrian Boafo, who saw an urgent need for regulation.
“We don’t regulate travel agencies,” Boafo said, explaining that the company responsible for booking the Wuries’ trip vanished after their deaths. In response, he drafted legislation requiring travel agencies to register with the state, carry insurance, and be held accountable through legal action if they fail to fulfill their promises.
“This bill will ensure only reputable travel agencies operate, and families can verify their credibility,” Boafo added.
The Wurie siblings believe their parents’ legacy will live on through this effort to protect future travelers.
“If this law had been in place, it could have deterred what happened to our parents,” Saida Wurie said.
The travel agency involved has since shut down, and its former owners could not be reached for comment. No criminal charges have been filed.
