Luxury haj operators demand raised quota<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Umroh and Haj Operators
\n(AMPUH), operators that offer more deluxe services on the haj
\npilgrimage, are demanding an increase of their quota of pilgrims
\nfrom 7,500 to 10,000.<\/p>\n
AMPUH's chairman, Mahfudz Djaelani, said that the quota for
\nthe luxury service should be increased due to increased demand.<\/p>\n
At a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission IX
\nfor religion, education and sports, AMPUH gained qualified
\nsupport from the House.<\/p>\n
The total quota allotted to Indonesia in next year's haj
\npilgrimage is 200,000, a number which was filled in less than two
\nweeks after registration opened on Sept. 1.<\/p>\n
The regular fare for the pilgrimage is Rp 8.8 million
\n(US$3,000).<\/p>\n
But under AMPUH, the price is between $5,000 and $9,000. The
\nhigher price is due to plush facilities which include
\naccommodations at a luxury hotel.<\/p>\n
Mahfudz also argued that the number of operators in AMPUH had
\nincreased from seven to 96 in the past few years. But only 50
\noperators are currently licensed to offer haj services, the other
\noperators are only allowed to provide umroh pilgrimage facilities
\nto Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The haj is conducted once a year while the umroh can be
\ncarried out at any time of the year.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, it would not be too much for AMPUH to ask the
\ngovernment to increase the quota of luxury pilgrims,\" Mahfudz
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
At yesterday's hearing, chaired by Ismael Hassan of the Golkar
\nfaction, legislators agreed to support AMPUH's call for a larger
\nquota for the luxury haj pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
But they stressed that haj pilgrims should not regard
\nthemselves as an elite or exclusive group.<\/p>\n
\"Before God, all people are equal and that is the main purpose
\nof the haj,\" said Cholil Bisri of the United Development Party,<\/p>\n
He added that AMPUH's proposal to increase the quota should
\nnot be based on business interests alone.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher is currently
\nlobbying the Saudi Arabian government to increase Indonesia's
\noverall quota to 203,000, in accordance with Indonesia's
\npopulation of 200 million.<\/p>\n
The quota ratio is usually one haj pilgrim for every 1,000
\ncitizens of a country.<\/p>\n
Should Indonesia's quota be increased, Mahfudz expects the
\nnumber allowed for luxury pilgrims to also rise.<\/p>\n
\"The quota increase should also result in the increase of
\nAMPUH's quota for the luxury pilgrimage,\" he said. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/luxury-haj-operators-demand-raised-quota-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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