JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said Indonesia was allowed to visit Saudi Arabia, especially in the implementation of the Umrah pilgrimage.

This good news was highlighted by the Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Yandri Susanto, along with the development of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, which has appeared in a number of countries. This was revealed by Yandri during a working meeting of the House of Representatives Commission VIII with the Minister of Religion at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 30.

"We are surprised again, Minister, because there is a new variant of COVID-19, namely Omicron, this really shocked us all. Africa is in lockdown, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong, and so on, have also been exposed," Yandri said. reminded Minister of Religion Yaqut to anticipate the threat of the spread of Omicron so as not to interfere with the departure of the Umrah and Hajj pilgrims which have just been re-implemented. Hajj next year," said the PAN politician. However, Yandri appreciated the efforts of Minister of Religion Yaqut, who had lobbied the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to send Umrah pilgrims. He hoped that the new variant of the Omicron virus would not interfere with the departure of prospective Umrah pilgrims from the country.

"God willing, although there is a new variant that does not interfere with our good news from Saudi Arabia a few days ago, the Minister with us can carry out the visit to Saudi Arabia well and the result is that prospective Umrah pilgrims can go to the Holy Land," said Yandri.

Earlier, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said Saudi Arabia's aviation authority had updated its international flight rules. Starting from December 1, 2021, flights from Indonesia can go directly to Saudi Arabia.

Yaqut welcomed the new rules issued by the Saudi Arabian aviation authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), dated November 25, 2021. Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Indonesian citizens are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia without having to go through a third country for 14 days," Yaqut said in a written statement, Friday, November 26.

He said Indonesian pilgrims or travelers no longer had to use the booster vaccine requirements or transit in certain countries to enter Saudi Arabia. "There is no longer a booster requirement, but we still have to comply with the health protocol (prokes) by undergoing an institutional quarantine for five days. This must be obeyed and is a common concern," continued Yaqut.