There Are 149 Prospective Umrah Pilgrims From Belitung Who Are Waiting For The Departure Schedule

Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organizing Section of the Belitung Ministry of Religion, Suyanto. ANTARA/Kasmono

BELITUNG - The office of the Ministry of Religion of Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province noted that 149 prospective Umrah pilgrims are still waiting for the departure schedule by nine Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) in the local area.

"There have been 149 Umrah pilgrims on the waiting list for the departure of the Umrah pilgrimage since it was reopened by the Saudi Arabian government," said Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organizing Section of the Belitung Ministry of Religion, Suyanto in Tanjung Pandan, as reported by Antara, Sunday, January 16.

According to him, the waiting list came from Umrah pilgrims who had registered in 2020 and 2021 but whose departure was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that since the reopening of the implementation of the Umrah pilgrimage by the Saudi Arabian government authorities, it was confirmed that there had been no Umrah pilgrims from that area who had been dispatched by the local PPIU.

"Congregants are still waiting for further information by their respective PPIUs and the PPIU will provide an overview and mechanism for the implementation of Umrah worship since it was reopened," he said.

He added that the implementation of Umrah during the COVID-19 pandemic was carried out by controlling and supervising strict adherence to health protocols both in the homeland and Saudi Arabia in order to provide protection and health to the congregation.

He added that PPIUs that will dispatch Umrah pilgrims are required to report through the Computerized System for Integrated Management of Umrah and Special Hajj (Siskopatuh) of the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Departure is indeed prioritized for PPIUs who use direct flights through Soekarno - Hatta Airport," he said.

According to him, the pilgrims who will depart will have a medical check-up at the Jakarta Hajj dormitory as a location for health checks and a starting point for departure, which is coordinated by the PPIU association.

Meanwhile, the office of the Ministry of Religion in the Regency/City is obliged to supervise the departure of Umrah pilgrims in their area.

"We urge prospective Umrah pilgrims to always maintain their health and communicate with the PPIU or travel bureau when they will depart," he said.