TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director-General of Hajj and Umrah at the Religious Affairs Ministry, Hilman Latief, said the departure of the umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia at the end of the year was postponed following the outbreak of the Omicron cases in many countries. The first departure of the pilgrimage was initially scheduled for December 23, 2021.

“We are looking for a way out so that umrah departures can run smoothly without any turmoil. We are still monitoring [the situation]. The umrah departure is not canceled, but postponed,” Hilman said in an online discussion with Aktual on Tuesday, December 21.

Hilman underlined that the ministry as a regulator would encourage the ecosystem of the umrah travel business to continue running. Moreover, the business has stalled for two years due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

The government, he added, is very careful to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant so as to anticipate the third wave of the pandemic. He mentioned that according to the plan, the umrah trip would be postponed until early January.

“However, the first departure is still being prepared in December. Hopefully, we will get an agreement to test the departure system,” he added.

Hilman went on to say that the Religious Affairs Ministry would send a small team to Saudi Arabia to observe the situation to make proper decisions and provide information for the pilgrims who will depart in January.

Read: Religious Affairs Ministry Postpones Umrah Departure Until Early 2022

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA