Ministry Discourages Umrah Backpackers, Urges Pilgrims to Travel with Licensed Agencies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public interest in performing Umrah continues to increase during the month of Shawwal. The Head of the Subdirectorate for Monitoring and Supervision of Umrah and Special Hajj Services at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Suviyanto, urged pilgrims to heed the “5 PASTI Umrah” ministry recommendations. What do the recommendations entail?

According to Suviyanto, the first recommendation is to ensure that the Umrah travel agent is licensed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. “Before registering, the public must ensure that the travel agent is licensed with PPIU," explained Suviyanto as quoted from the Ministry of Religion's website on Monday, April 8, 2024.

After ensuring the Umrah travel agency has a PPIU license, Suviyanto urged citizens to ensure the Umrah fees and service packages are within government regulations. "The cost of Umrah must be reasonable, by the government’s standards of Rp23,000,000," he continued.

In addition, Umrah pilgrims must pay attention to their tickets and flight schedules. Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation No.  5 of 2021 stipulates that Umrah flights must use direct flights, flights with a layover with the same airlines, and changing flights with a maximum of two airlines. 

"Next, the Umrah pilgrims must also ensure they have their visa ready before departing," said Suviyanto.

Finally, make sure that the intended hotel for Umrah has been booked and paid for by the PPIU-licensed travel agency. "Pilgrims must pay attention to these five things before departing to ensure a safe and comfortable [Umrah]," he said.

Umrah is a different kind of travel from a tourist trip. For this reason, the PPIU-licensed agency is obliged to prepare professional worship guides. The pilgrims must understand the material for manasik before Umrah's departure and while in Saudi Arabia, Suvitanto explained. 

The case of Umrah backpackers 

Suviyanto disapproved of Umrah backpackers, citing Article 86 of Law No. 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah. It stipulated that Umrah worship is carried out individually or in groups through PPIU.

"The goal is that people who perform Umrah can perform worship safely, comfortably, healthily, and in accordance with Islamic law," he said.

The government has continued to provide education and socialization to the public regarding this matter, in collaboration with the association of PPIU-licensed travel agencies. PPIUs are also asked not to facilitate the departure of independent Umrah pilgrims.

DEVY ERNIS

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