2027 Hajj Fees Potentially Increase, Government Tries to Make Pilgrims Only Pay 40 Percent

JAKARTA - The government is currently drafting the projection of the Hajj Maintenance Cost (BPIH) for the year 1448 Hijriah/2027 Masehi in the midst of global economic dynamics that are still full of challenges.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said that although a number of components of the cost of organizing the hajj are expected to increase, the government ensures that the cost burden paid by the pilgrims will still be made lighter in accordance with the President's instructions.

"The government is ordered to find the best scheme so that the public can still easily perform the hajj even though the global economic conditions are difficult," Dahnil said in a statement quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 30.

Dahnil explained that the increase in BPIH was influenced by various external factors, ranging from global economic uncertainty due to geopolitical conflicts, international inflation, to the Saudi Arabian Government's policies that directly affect the cost of Hajj services.

In addition, a number of cost components have increased, ranging from flight costs due to increased jet fuel prices, accommodation and service costs in Saudi Arabia, to changes in service standards.

"The Saudi Arabian government has also removed the D category service so that all services are upgraded to category C, which automatically increases the cost of the hajj service," said Dahnil.

In addition to the increase in avtur costs which has an impact on flight fares, the increase in the price of goods and services in Saudi Arabia is also an important factor in preparing the projection of Hajj costs next year.

The government is currently still conducting a comprehensive discussion on all components of the cost, together with related stakeholders on the amount of BPIH 1448 H/2027 M.

"In principle, the service is improved, but the burden of the community must still be reduced," he said.

In the scheme being studied, the proportion of Hajj financing is projected to change. If in the 2026 Hajj, the value of benefits derived from the management of Hajj funds contributes about 39 percent, while about 61 percent is borne by the pilgrims, then in the 2027 Hajj, the government is trying to reverse this composition.

This means that around 60 percent of the cost of implementation is projected to be supported by the value of the management of the Hajj fund by BPKH, while the portion paid directly by the pilgrims is projected to be around 40 percent.

With this scheme, the quality of service to the congregation can still be improved even though the overall cost of implementation has increased.

The optimization of this benefit value is also considered to have a strong basis. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the implementation of the hajj from Indonesia was not carried out, while in 2022 the number of pilgrims who were sent out was only about 50 percent of the normal quota.

This condition provides room for the accumulation of managed funds that can be optimally utilized and still pay attention to the principle of sustainability in the management of the Hajj fund.

The government emphasized that all financing schemes would be carefully discussed and determined by the DPR RI while still prioritizing the principles of prudence, sustainability of the Hajj fund, improvement of service quality, and impartiality to the pilgrims.

"The ultimate goal is to provide a pilgrimage that is increasingly qualified, equitable, and affordable for the Indonesian people, even in the midst of ongoing global economic challenges," said Dahnil.