Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that tens of thousands of pilgrims had indeed been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, He has confirmed that he will dispatch Umrah pilgrims in December 2021 after the Saudi Arabian aviation authority, General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) open the door for Indonesian citizens.
The Minister of Religion also mentioned as many 18.752 Some of the Umrah pilgrims already hold visas so they can immediately depart in December 2021 this.
other than that, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Minister of Religion has also answered the request of the Chairperson of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Yandri Susanto regarding the cost of Umrah travel. He ensured that there would be a review regarding the cost of Umrah so that it would not be burdensome. “Discussion on revision of KMA regulation number 719 year 2020, regarding guidelines for organizing Umrah pilgrimages during the COVID-19 pandemic and KMA number 177 year 2020 about the cost of organizing Umrah worship references during the pandemic. As stated by the chairman of the meeting that the cost of this Umrah must be reviewed and evaluated so as not to burden the congregation, "said Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
Section Head of Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) Air Directorate General of Immigration, Usin said that the Directorate General of Immigration is ready to support the implementation of Umrah departures during the Covid-19 pandemic. "The Directorate General of Immigration fully supports the Special Class I Immigration Office for TPI Soekarno Hatta, which is very ready regarding the number of Human Resources. (HR)”.
To expedite the immigration check process, Usin also advises to put 1 immigration officers on each bus when transporting Umrah pilgrims from Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory to Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
The Minister of Religion himself had made a working visit to Saudi Arabia. On the way back from his working visit from Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia's aviation authority has updated its international flight rules. Starting from 1 December 2021, flights from Indonesia can go directly to Saudi Arabia. Yaqut welcomes the new rules issued by Saudi Arabia's aviation authority, General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
