50 Per Cent of Umrah Travel Agencies Inactive, Sapuhi Highlights Issues with Permit Issuance

The General Chairman of the Indonesian Umrah and Hajj Organisers Union (Sapuhi), Syam Resfiadi, believes that the fact 50 per cent of umrah travel agencies are inactive is a sign that the digital permit issuance policy for umrah pilgrimage organisers needs to be evaluated.

“Indeed, after inventorying all permits from approximately 3,600 umrah travel agencies, it turns out that roughly 50 per cent, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, are inactive,” Syam told Republika on Thursday (1/10/2026).

A total of 3,631 Umrah and Special Hajj Travel Organisers (PPIU) are recorded in the Integrated Management Computerised System for Umrah and Special Hajj (Siskopatuh). However, about 50 per cent of that number are listed as inactive.

According to Syam, the high number of inactive organisers may indicate that the digital permit issuance process has not been effective so far. He argues that the policy appears more focused on increasing the number of organisers and meeting targets for completing permits within a specific timeframe.

“This could be a sign that the digital issuance of permits has been ineffective, as it solely pursues quantity and is tied to the obligation to complete licensing within a certain period,” he said.

Syam explained that this condition is inseparable from policies that provide ease in the licensing process, ranging from the simplification of requirements to the reduction of processing times. However, he noted that such ease has not been accompanied by macro or domestic economic stability.

“Because the policy of opening up ease, simplifying requirements, and shortening processing times was not accompanied by macro and domestic economic stability,” he added.