SURABAYA - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa for the first time released hundreds of Umrah pilgrims from Juanda International Airport. A total of 220 Umrah pilgrims flew directly to Medina, using Garuda Indonesia airline GA9848.
"The Umrah pilgrims departing from Juanda Airport are not only from East Java, but also from Medan (North Sumatra), DI Yogyakarta and South Kalimantan," said Khofifah, after releasing the Umrah pilgrims, Tuesday, March 15.
With the re-opening of Juanda Airport for Foreign Travel Actors (PPLN), including Umrah called Khofifah, it is very strategic, for the departure of Umrah pilgrims from various provinces in Indonesia, not only East Java.
"So everything must work together to be able to dispatch, organize, and all return home in good health, safe, and smoothly. Moreover, this is the departure for Umrah after approximately two years of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
According to him, the reopening of Juanda Airport for PPLN and Umrah is an important part of the process that drives economic growth in East Java.
"Of course this is a synergy from all institutions that can provide strategic added value for all of us, one of which is the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in East Java," he said.
In the future, Khofifah hopes that the Umrah departure process from Juanda Airport will be able to run regularly, and the flight intensity can be increased, especially before the Holy Month of Ramadan.
"Hopefully in the future, Umrah departures can run regularly and the intensity of departures from Juanda Airport can increase. Both before and during the month of Ramadan, interest in Umrah is very high. Moreover, the two years have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
Meanwhile, regarding the implementation of the pilgrimage, Khofifah said she was still waiting for a decision from the central government which was also waiting for confirmation from the Saudi Arabian government. Of course this has been prepared by the central government in this case the Ministry of Religion.
"Last Friday, the coordination meeting was chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and He conveyed that when he met with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, he asked for an increase in the hajj quota because the hajj trip was postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
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