Ministry Of Religion: Departure Of Umrah Congregants To Open January 8th

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion stated that the departure for Umrah worship will reopen on January 8, 2022, after previously experiencing a delay according to the President's appeal not to travel abroad at the end of 2021.

"The departure for Umrah pilgrims is planned to be re-opened on January 8, 2022," said the Ministry of Religion's Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Hilman Latief in a written statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 6.

He said the decision to depart was after holding a cross-ministerial/institutional meeting related to the implementation of the 1443 Hijri Umrah pilgrimage on January 3, 2022.

Because it is still during the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of Umrah is carried out with control and supervision of strict adherence to health protocols, both in the country and in Saudi Arabia by prioritizing the protection and safety of the congregation.

"PPIU (Umrah Worship Travel Organizer) who will dispatch Umrah pilgrims is also required to report departures through SISKOPATUH," said Hilman.

Other provisions, he said, prioritized departures for PPIUs using direct flights through Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The return of Umrah pilgrims must also follow the policies set by the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

The departure of the four initial flights refers to the one-gate umrah policy using the Jakarta Hajj hostel as a location for health checks and a starting point for departure coordinated by the PPIU association.

"Provincial Kemenag Regional Offices and Regency/Municipal Ministry of Religion are obliged to supervise the departure of Umrah pilgrims in their working areas," he said.