Moreover, we expect that the quota for Indonesian pilgrims in 2023 will return to normal.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry will use the results of a Statistics Indonesia (BPS) survey of pilgrims' satisfaction with the 2022 Hajj services as the basis for improving the quality of services next year.

"The achievement is encouraging. However, it will become a tough task for the Religious Affairs Ministry and related stakeholders to be able to maintain it," Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas remarked here on Monday.

The BPS reported that the satisfaction index of 2022 Hajj pilgrims on the pilgrimage services rose by 4.54 points to 90.45 from 85.91 in the previous Hajj implementation in 2019.

The minister said that his ministry will pay attention to assessments from pilgrims and BPS to improve Hajj services in 2023.

“Moreover, we expect that the quota for Indonesian pilgrims in 2023 will return to normal,” he added.

In 2019, the pilgrim quota provided to Indonesia was up to 221 thousand. But, in 2022, it was only allowed to dispatch 100,051 pilgrims since the government of Saudi Arabia was trying to minimize COVID-19 transmission.

Qoumas said that one of the improvements that will be made will be in the implementation of worship guidance for pilgrims.

The government is planning to begin preparations for the implementation of the services earlier so that pilgrims can get optimal worship guidance services, he informed.

"We will schedule the recruitment of worship guidance officers to be carried out earlier," he said.

Head of BPS, Margo Yuwono, said that overall, the 2022 Hajj services were rated very satisfactory by pilgrims.

The aspects assessed in the pilgrims' satisfaction index included the Hajj officers, worship, transportation, accommodation, meal, as well as health services.

The satisfaction index for the provision of transportation services in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) areas rose to 91.54 in 2022 from 80.37 in 2019.

Furthermore, the satisfaction index for catering services and the provision of accommodation tents in Armuzna areas jumped to 90.08 in 2022 from 84.48 in 2019 and to 87.91 in 2022 from 76.92 in 2019, respectively.

The index of satisfaction with Hajj services outside the Armuzna areas also experienced an increase.

The satisfaction index for intercity bus services, officer services, shalawat bus services (transport from the pilgrims’ hotels to the Great Mosque of Mecca), and worship services increased to 91.93 points, 90.32 points, 90.76 points, and 90.31 points, respectively.

In addition, the index of satisfaction for hotel services rose to 89.35 points, while the satisfaction index for public/other services increased to 89.73 points.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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