Indonesia has been granted an additional quota of 8,000 Hajj pilgrims, according to the Ministry. The Director General of Hajj and Umrah, Hilman Latief, has stated that as of June 12, 2023, 8,800 regular pilgrims have paid for the Hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH) for the additional quota of the regular Hajj pilgrims Year 1444H/2023M. Of these, 6,294 pilgrims (~85.46%) have already paid off their BPIH, leaving a remaining quota of 1,070 people and 2,506 reserve pilgrims (~34.12%). The Hajj Ministry aims to fulfill the remaining additional quota soon.
The peak of Hajj occurred on June 27, 2023. Numerous preparations were made by PPIH to make sure that everything ran smoothly during the Hajj. An early announcement was made that the policy of temporarily stopping the distribution of congregation catering would be followed. Furthermore, the traffic conditions that typically become congested before and after the peak of Hajj were also taken into account for the distribution of catering.
The Ministry’s decision to grant a larger quota of Hajj pilgrims will undoubtedly benefit many Muslim Indonesians who wished to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. The move comes as a result of the Indonesian government’s goal to increase the number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to 214,000 by 2024. This decision will not only benefit the Indonesian Muslim community, but it will also have a positive impact on the economy, as the Hajj is a significant source of revenue for the country. The Ministry’s efforts to ensure a smooth Hajj experience for pilgrims should also be praised.
