JAKARTA. As quoted by Saudi Gazatte, Saudi Arabia Kingdom is planning to remove 20% hajj quota in every country, including Indonesia.
Therefore, the hajj quota for Indonesia will increase by 20% from 168,000 pilgrims to 211,000 pilgrims.
President Director of Tahyiba Tora Artha Hanif said, the additional quota will reduce the waiting list, including for the pilgrim fare plus (ONH plus). To date, the waiting list of ONH plus is even at seven to eight years.
Artha concerns that the ONH plus service will be deteriorated if the waiting list is not shortened. “The special hajj offers special service and price,” he said, Sunday (8/1). Artha hopes that the additional quota will increase the number of ONH plus customers by 9%. However, Artha did not specify the number of the special hajj customers.
Meanwhile, President Director of PT Alfa Kaza Mustika Alfa Edison Haji hopes that the government will immediately announce the additional quota. Therefore, the travel bureau can anticipate the number of pilgrims in advance, mainly in terms of hotel accommodation. “This also affects to the payment settlement from the pilgrims,” he told KONTAN, Sunday (8/1).
Vice General Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Providers Muharom Ahmad hopes that the government can obtain the initial quota as many as 211,000 pilgrims and 3,500 officials. To date, this organization is waiting for confirmation from government on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia Kingdom.
He predicts that the policy will increase the number of hajj pilgrims by 20%. However, this depends on the fluctuating rupiah exchange rate. “Those two tariffs will affect to air plane fare, while hotel tariffs remain stable,” he said.
Director General of Hajj and Umrah of Ministry of Religious Affairs Abdul Djamil said, the exact number of hajj quota is a sensitive issue. However, he confirmed that the information about the quota will be announced in an immediate time. “It will be announced in the next few days,” Abdul Djamil said.
Abdul added, the increase in hajj quota will affect to all hajj services, including regular and special (ONH plus) hajj services. However, he confirmed that there will be no specific number on the quota for regular and special hajj services. Previously, there were 155,200 pilgrims with regular hajj service, and 13,600 pilgrims with special hajj service.
(Muhammad Farid/translator)
