Ministry of Religious Affairs Proposes 2022 Hajj Cost Increase to Rp45 Million; These are the Regions with the Largest Hajj Quota

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has proposed a Hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) of Rp 45 million for 2022. This proposal indicates the possibility of Hajj pilgrimages in 2022.

This is because the Saudi Arabian government has eased health protocols related to the Covid-19 pandemic. This policy is outlined in a circular from the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on March 5, 2022.

Under this policy, visitors to Saudi Arabia are no longer required to undergo Covid-19 testing or quarantine. However, they are required to have insurance to cover Covid-19 related expenses.

This relaxation of rules by the Saudi Arabian government will undoubtedly impact the departure of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in 2022. As is known, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, prospective Hajj pilgrims were unable to travel to Mecca.

Based on data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, West Java has the largest Hajj quota, reaching 37,988 pilgrims out of a total of 199,518 pilgrims as of March 18, 2022. Meanwhile, the number of Hajj applicants in West Java reaches 766,260 pilgrims, resulting in a waiting time of 25 years.

Next is East Java with a Hajj quota of 34,516 pilgrims. Meanwhile, the number of applicants in East Java reaches 1.09 million pilgrims, resulting in a waiting time of up to 32 years. Central Java is third with a quota of 29,786 pilgrims. Followed by Banten with 9,279 pilgrims, North Sumatra with 8,168 pilgrims, and Jakarta with 7,766 pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the quota for prospective Hajj pilgrims in South Sulawesi is 7,145 pilgrims. Following that is Lampung with a quota of 6,915 pilgrims, and South Sumatra and Riau with 6,890 and 4,957 pilgrims respectively.