Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas: The Smaller The Haj Quota, The Higher The Cost Per Person

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, said that this year's haj pilgrimage financing has the potential to experience an adjustment if the Saudi Arabian authorities impose a quota limit for Indonesian pilgrims.

"The smaller the quota, the higher the cost per person", said Yaqut in a meeting with the joint opinion of the House of Representatives Commission VIII which was monitored virtually, Monday, reported by Antara, Monday, March 15.

Nevertheless, the potential for an increase in the cost of Hajj can occur when the Saudi Arabian authorities have provided certainty about the opening of the Hajj pilgrimage 1442 H/2021 AD. Currently, there has not been any decision from the government there regarding the implementation of the hajj.

Apart from the quota limitation, another thing that affects the hajj financing that affects the cost of administering the haj pilgrimage (BPIH) is the health protocol on the aspects of transportation, taxes, and the rupiah exchange rate.

"One of the determining variables for the calculation is the establishment of a health protocol on the transportation aspect", he said.

Yaqut hopes that in the future there will be an understanding between the provisions of the health protocol from the Ministry of Health and its application in transportation activities according to the Ministry of Transportation, especially regarding physical restrictions and requirements for a swab test.

"The synchronization will make it easier for us to implement scenarios as well as calculate costs to make it more precise", he said.

Although the Indonesian government is still waiting for news from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yaqut is optimistic that the holding of the Hajj 1442 H/2021 AD will be opened.

"We are optimistic that the possibility of holding this year's Hajj is still very open. This is indicated by vaccinations in Saudi Arabia as well as in Indonesia in the context of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic", he said.