Ministry of Religion

Ministry of Religion (Ministry of Religion) explained regarding the proposed increase in the Cost of Organizing Worship Haji (BPIH) 1444 H/2023 M IDR 69 million. The Ministry of Religion gave an explanation about the viral cost of Hajj being reduced by Saudi Arabia, while Indonesia was increasing the cost of organizing the Hajj.

Summarized detikcomSunday (22/1/2023), the following are sundries on the proposal to increase the 2023 Hajj fee to IDR 69.2 million.

Ministry of Religion explanation

Director General of Hajj and Umrah Management (PHU) Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief confirmed that Saudi Arabia reduced the 1444 H Hajj service package by around 30% from the price they set in 2022. According to him, the reduction in the Hajj package has also been taken into account in the proposed 1444 H/2023 M Hajj Organizing Costs (BPIH) prepared by the government.

Hilman explained, what was handed down by the Saudi Arabian government was a service package haji. As for what is meant by the package is the service from 8-13 Zulhijjah in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina or what is commonly called Armuzna or Masyair.

For domestic citizens, the government of Saudi Arabia offers four Masyair service packages for 1444 H/2023 AD:
1. From SAR 10,596-SAR 11,841 (around IDR 43 million-IDR 48 million)
2. From SAR 8,092-SAR 8,458 (around IDR 33 million-IDR 34.5 million)
3. From SAR 13,150 (approximately IDR 53.6 million)

Saudi also offers a fourth package, starting at SAR 3,984 (around Rp. 16 million), but there are no services at Mina (only accommodation and consumption at Arafah and Muzdalifah).

“That is what is called the Hajj service package handled by Syarikah or companies in Saudi. Last year’s price, due to the pandemic, increased very significantly. This year, thank God, it was lowered. So regarding the Hajj service package in Masyair, the count in the government’s BPIH proposal has also decreased, the range is also 30% and that is very significant,” said Hilman in his written statement, Saturday (21/1/2023).

“Last year the 2022 Hajj (Masyair) service package amounted to SAR 5,656.87. Thank God this year apart from going down, the Ministry of Religion was successful in negotiations to become SAR 4,632.87. It went down around SAR 1,024 or 30%,” he continued.

So in this year’s BPIH proposal, said Hilman, the government has already made price adjustments according to the Saudis. However, his party still maintains the quality of service for pilgrims in Masyair.

“To the service provider companies, we still ask for a commitment so that at the price set by the Saudi government, the services provided to the congregation also remain of high quality,” he explained.

Consider Dollar Exchange Rates and Accommodations

However, said Hilman, BPIH components are not only service packages haji. The components of the cost of the pilgrimage that the government has proposed to the DPR also include accommodation, consumption and transportation services while in Saudi Arabia, both Jeddah, Makkah and Medina.

“Outside Masyair, the pilgrims’ stay is around 30 days, both in Makkah and Madinah. We prepare all the services for this,” explained Hilman.

In addition, the preparation of the BPIH proposal also takes into account the components of the Dollar (USD) exchange rate and the Riyal exchange rate (SAR). In this proposal, the assumptions used are IDR 15,300 for 1 USD exchange rate, and IDR 4,080 for 1 SAR exchange rate. In 2022, the SAR exchange rate used is IDR 3,846. The USD exchange rate for 2022 is IDR 14,425.

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