With the decline, hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) for 2013 is US$3,527, down from last year`s US$3,617.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have agreed to a decline in hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) by an average of US$90 for this year.
"This is a good decision. Not only is BPIH lowered but also set earlier compared to last year. Last year BPIH was set moment ahead of hajj pilgrims` departure. BPIH for 2013 declines by an average of US$90," Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said here on Monday.
"The decline differs from one embarkation point to another. In some areas the decline is more than US$110 while in other areas it is less than US$90. But on average the decline is US$90," he said.
With the decline, BPIH for 2013 is US$3,527, down from last year`s US$3,617.
The minister said the discussion on the amount of BPIH this time lasted for two months or two months earlier than usual.
The decline was mostly contributed by a drop in flight tickets and accommodation costs in Mecca, he said.
The accommodation cost for each hajj pilgrim fell to 2,994 riyals this year from 3,150 riyals last year, he said.
Actually, the accommodation cost this year increased to 4,998 riyals from 4,300 riyals last year. But since there had been subsidy hike it was set at 2,994 riyals, he said.
The subsidy hike did not harm the state because it was not taken from the state budget but from optimization fund, he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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