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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia Eyes Ways to Curb 2027 Hajj Cost Hike

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Indonesian lawmakers and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will discuss potential increases in the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage costs.
  • Factors driving the expected rise include higher prices in Saudi Arabia, increased aviation fuel costs, and currency depreciation.
  • Proposals to mitigate the cost hike include negotiating lower service fees with Saudi Arabia and utilizing return flights for tourism.

Indonesia's House of Representatives Commission VIII is set to convene with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to address the anticipated rise in Hajj pilgrimage costs for 2027. The increase is attributed to several factors, including escalating prices within Saudi Arabia, higher aviation fuel expenses, augmented service charges from the Saudi government, and the weakening Indonesian rupiah against the U.S. dollar.

It is very likely that there will be an increase, but we will do our best to ensure that any adjustment does not place an excessive burden on our pilgrims.

— Mochamad Irfan YusufMinister of Hajj and Umrah acknowledging the projected rise in Hajj costs.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf acknowledged the likelihood of an increased Hajj Organizing Cost (BPIH) for 2027, though he refrained from specifying an exact figure. "It is very likely that there will be an increase, but we will do our best to ensure that any adjustment does not place an excessive burden on our pilgrims," Yusuf stated. He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia has upgraded its Hajj service package from Category D to Category C, leading to higher associated costs.

Despite the projections, Commission VIII Chairman Marwan Dasopang suggested that the cost increase could be minimized. He proposed that the ministry could persuade the Saudi Arabian government to reduce certain cost components. One idea involves using aircraft that return empty after transporting Indonesian pilgrims to carry tourists, which could potentially lower flight expenses. "We will present ideas like this tomorrow and set a deadline so we can decide the Hajj travel cost. As for how much the increase will be, we will assess it first," Dasopang told reporters.

We will present ideas like this tomorrow and set a deadline so we can decide the Hajj travel cost. As for how much the increase will be, we will assess it first.

— Marwan DasopangChairman of Commission VIII outlining proposals to minimize cost increases.

Dasopang also emphasized the need for a new approach to calculating Hajj costs for the upcoming year. He warned that maintaining current fees without identifying efficiencies could compromise the quality of services offered to pilgrims. "If we use the same calculation method as last year, the quality of services will inevitably decline, unless the Ministry of Hajj can convince the Saudi authorities to lower some of the operational costs," he added. The government and Commission VIII are expected to finalize guidelines for determining the 2027 BPIH and Hajj Travel Cost (Bipih).

If we use the same calculation method as last year, the quality of services will inevitably decline, unless the Ministry of Hajj can convince the Saudi authorities to lower some of the operational costs.

— Marwan DasopangChairman of Commission VIII warning about the impact of unchanged cost calculations on service quality.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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