For this year`s season, Indonesia will have a total quota of 221 thousand. However, no further information is yet available on whether the quota of 221 thousand will also be extended to Indonesia for the coming years.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its agreement on Wednesday to restore Indonesias Hajj quota from 168,800 to 211 thousand and provided an additional quota of 10 thousand for the 2017 pilgrimage season.

Hence, for this years season, Indonesia will have a total quota of 221 thousand. However, no further information is yet available on whether the quota of 221 thousand will also be extended to Indonesia for the coming years.

Saudi Arabia has reiterated its promise during the current state visit of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud to Indonesia.

The Saudi government had imposed a reduction of 20 percent in the Hajj quota of all countries in 2013 to facilitate the expansion project of the Masjidil Haram Mosque. After four years and the completion of the mosques expansion project, the Saudi government has restored the previous quotas of all countries.

The report on the restoration of Indonesias Hajj quota on Wednesday is merely a reaffirmation of the previous Saudi governments commitment to giving back the normal quota that was cut by 20 percent to 168,800 four years ago.

Last January, President Joko Widodo stated that the Saudi government had decided to restore Indonesias Hajj quota from 168,800 to 211 thousand in 2017. Besides this, the Saudi government has also agreed to the Indonesian request for an additional quota of 10 thousand. Thus, the Hajj quota for Indonesia in 2017 will reach 221 thousand.

Though the quota has been restored, the length of time a would-be Hajj pilgrim has to be on the waiting list before going to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj is not reduced significantly. With over 2,545,000 would-be Hajj pilgrims on the waiting list, they have to wait for an average of 12 years, or about 11.5 years, if the additional quota of 10 thousand is taken into account before they could depart to the Holy Land.

Hence, the government has urged to discuss the countrys Hajj quota during the Saudi Kings visit to Indonesia from March 1 to March 9, 2017.

"Indonesia needs to discuss with the Saudi King matters relating to Indonesias interests, such as additional quota and facilities for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims: the development of lodging facilities near ritual places and others," Din Syamsuddin, chairman of the advisory board of the Indonesian Ulemas Council, stated on Wednesday.

The same view was also echoed by Ali Masugi, the treasurer of the PRATAMA Hajj and Umrah Association. He said PRATAMA thanked Saudi Arabia for the restoration of Indonesias Hajj quota.

"We hope that if possible, King Salman would increase or adjust Indonesias Hajj quota in 2017 and in the coming years. At least, Saudi Arabia has adjusted the quota for the Indonesian Muslim population. We hope the Saudi government would increase the quota to 250 thousand, so that the waiting list could be shortened," Masugi noted.

In 2016, Indonesia was forecast to have a population of 255 million of which Muslims are estimated to account for 87.17 percent.

If the Muslim population is about 87.17 percent, the Indonesian basic Hajj quota is 222,284 based on the calculation of ((255,000,000 x 87.17 percent) x 1/1,000)).The figure 222.284 was then used as the basic quota for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in 2016.

"Hence, there is an additional quota of 27,716 of the adjustment quota of 222,284, thus the total quota for Indonesia this year becomes 250 thousand," Masugi explained.

He also expressed hope that the Saudi government would provide a visa-free facility for Umrah (minor Hajj) pilgrimage.

"In financial matters, not all Umrah pilgrims are included in the category of financially very capable," Masugi pointed out.

PRATAMA is also optimistic that King Salman would facilitate all Hajj and Umrah associations, so that they would be able to cooperate with the relevant institutions in Saudi Arabia.

"Hajj and Umrah associations are partners and service providers, both in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. With the presence of a memorandum of understanding with the association, the opportunity to advance the umrah industry sector could become strong, including for the halal tourism industry," Masugi remarked.

Most importantly, the government of Saudi Arabia will increase the quota for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage for Muslims around the world, aiming to reach 30 million pilgrims by 2030.

"Todays quota caters to eight million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims per year, and the number is expected to go up to 30 million by 2030," Deputy Governor of Investment Affairs from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Faisal Bassarat stated after the "Indonesia-Saudi Arabia Business Forum" event held in Jakartas Grand Hyatt hotel on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia is home to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina to which Muslim communities from all around the world congregate to conduct their religious pilgrimage. The Saudi government is in charge of organizing the entrance quota to accommodate members of Muslim communities from across the world that are keen to undertake their pilgrimage journey.

Furthermore, the Umrah and Hajj sector acts as one of the most important contributors to the countrys economy, and since the Saudi government is seeking to further explore its non-oil and gas sector to boost trade(*)

Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017