Airlangga Hartarto Affirms The Government Strives So That Hajj And Umrah Congregants Can Immediately Go To The Baitullah

Airlangga Hartarto received a visit from the Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (SATHU) Gathering Forum. (special photo)

JAKARTA - The government continues to make various efforts that are oriented towards the ease of organizing the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, as well as considering the sustainability of Hajj and Umrah travel entrepreneurs. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto received an audience from the Gathering Forum of the Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (SATHU), to hear his aspirations regarding the fate of pilgrims who in the last 2 years had not been able to go for Umrah, as well as discuss taxation issues for Religious Services, and the application of derived regulations. -Law on job creation for hajj and umrah travel businesses.

The SATHU Forum explained that currently there are quite a large number of business actors in the field of organizing Umrah and Special Hajj. There are 339 PIHK (Special Hajj Organizers), 1,504 PPIU (Umrah Travel Organizers) and 1,700 KBIHU (Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups), or a total of 3,523 business entities in organizing Umrah and Hajj, with an estimated number of 17,615 employees. .

On this occasion it was conveyed that it had been almost 2 years that the Hajj and Umrah pilgrims had not departed, and the hope of the community was very high to be able to reopen the implementation of Umrah and Hajj. Coordinating Minister Airlangga said that the Government of Saudi Arabia had given a signal to reopen Umrah and Hajj pilgrims to the Holy Land, as the Government of Saudi Arabia had conveyed to the Government of Indonesia through a Diplomatic Note issued on October 8, 2021 ago. However, this matter still needs to be discussed further between the two countries.

Airlangga Hartarto. (Ist Photo)

Regarding vaccination, Saudi Arabia uses 4 types of vaccines, namely Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Astra Zeneca, and recognizes 6 types of vaccines with the addition of Sinoparhm and Sinovac. For Hajj and Umrah pilgrims who use one of the four vaccines used by Saudi Arabia, they can immediately perform the Umrah pilgrimage. However, for foreign pilgrims who are vaccinated with vaccines other than the four used by Saudi (especially Sinovac and Sinopharm), then the person concerned must receive a 1-time booster using one of the four vaccines used by Saudi Arabia. Regarding the booster obligation for Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccine recipients, currently the Government is still unable to fulfill it, with the consideration that until the end of this year it is still pursuing the vaccination target.

“We are still pursuing the target of achieving 70% vaccination for Dose-1 and 50% for Dose-2 by the end of this year. The Indonesian government will conduct diplomacy with the Saudi Arabian government regarding this vaccination issue. We will ask the Minister of Health and the Minister of Religion, with the assistance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the same time, we will also convey Indonesia's pandemic conditions that have improved and discuss other technical matters related to the plan to open the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Airlangga Hartarto took a group photo after receiving the organizers of the Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (SATHU) Gathering Forum. (Ist Photo)

In addition, related to taxation for Religious Services, Coordinating Minister Airlangga said that there is already a Minister of Finance Regulation 92/PMK.03/2020 concerning Criteria and/or Details of Religious Services that are Not Subject to VAT. "In the PMK it is clear that religious service providers, including Hajj and Umrah Travel Services, are not subject to VAT which has been effective since August 22, 2020," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Regarding the application of the derivative rules of the Job Creation Law for hajj and umrah travel businesses, currently the government's focus is on providing ease of doing business and strengthening the economy during the pandemic, including the business of organizing hajj and umrah. On that occasion, Coordinating Minister Airlangga emphasized that the concept of imposing sanctions as a consequence of risk-based business licensing is something that is intended to encourage business actors to be more responsible in running their businesses and maintain business continuity so that they can continue.

"Therefore, it will be socialized again, no need to worry. The existence of the Job Creation Law is actually in favor of the community, entrepreneurs, and to improve the business and investment climate," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

On that occasion, the Chairperson of the SATHU Forum's Board of Trustees, Fuad Hasan Masyhur said that the hearing brought fresh air to all people who had been waiting for almost two years, who had longed to be able to go to the Baitullah to perform Hajj and Umrah. At the same time, it also brings good news and provides a glimmer of hope for entrepreneurs traveling for Hajj and Umrah travel.

“We would like to thank the Coordinating Minister, Airlangga Hartarto, who has given direction to be able to realize the expectations of the community. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the businesses of Umrah and Hajj organizers, thank God, the Coordinating Minister has given a glimmer of hope. We believe that in the near future, we will be able to fulfill people's expectations to go to the Baitullah," said Fuad Hasan Masyhur.