Ministry of Religion (Ministry of Religion) explains about the service charge haji Indonesian pilgrims are proposed to increase to IDR 69.2 million at a time when the price of Hajj packages in Saudi Arabia has actually fallen 30 percent compared to 2022. The Ministry of Religion explained this condition.
The Director General for Hajj and Umrah Management at the Ministry of Religion, Hilman Latief, confirmed that the price reduction for the Hajj packages set by Saudi Arabia was from IDR 22 million to around IDR 19 million. He said the decline in Hajj service packages was corrected by rising prices for transportation to accommodation.
“What is called the Hajj service or the Hajj service package is a community service or in Saudi it is called a service during the community, namely services while the congregation stays in or stays at Arofah then goes to Musdalifah, then they die in the minah, those 4 days are called the Hajj service package last year. the price is 5,656.87 riyals, or around Rp. 22 million, that was 4 days yesterday,” said Hilman when contacted, Saturday (21/1/2023).
“Now, for now, our offer to those for whom we have negotiated the price for the service package is 4,632.87 riyals, or around Rp. 18.9 million or Rp. 19 million, from Rp. 22 million it went down,” he continued.
However, Hilman said that the increase in haj costs proposed by the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was not affected by the cost of haj services in Saudi Arabia. He said that this affected the cost of transportation to accommodation for pilgrims.
“Now another component that increases costs is what we are aware of and we take care of precisely regarding airplane tickets, yes, the dollar exchange rate is high at the moment, secondly we are also watching as a precaution with fluctuating avtur,” he said.
He said that currently the assumption used by the Ministry of Religion is the latest US dollar exchange rate. He said the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar this year was different from the previous year.
“Currently, the assumption that we are using is that the dollar is still pessimistic. Dollar is pessimistic, meaning the dollar (exchange rate) is high at Rp. 15,300, yes. Meanwhile last year the dollar was Rp. 14,425. So it’s different, because the pilgrimage costs are dollars, that’s how right, I think there is,” he said.
Hilman said that this condition made the decline in Hajj service packages in Saudi Arabia corrected by the increase in other costs. According to him, Hajj services do not cover costs such as transportation to accommodation.
“So even though community services or Hajj package services have decreased, the decline is still corrected for other prices, for example increases in how many riyals for lodging plans, for accommodation, for meals, that is not included in the Hajj service package. Hotels in Medina, in Mecca, eating, are not included in the said Hajj service. So the Hajj service is specific, that’s the context,” he explained.
See the Ministry of Religion’s further explanation on the next page.
Also watch the video: Here’s a breakdown of the 2023 Hajj costs of IDR 69 million
