Avtur price hike: North Sulawesi Governor approves increase in local Hajj costs to Rp5 million

The Head of the North Sulawesi Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), Wahyudin Ukoli, stated that Governor Yulius Selvanus has approved the increase in local Hajj costs to Rp5 million for each prospective Hajj pilgrim (CJH) in the region. “Previously, the local cost subsidy for Hajj pilgrims from North Sulawesi was Rp3.8 million, now rising to Rp5 million per person,” said the Head of the Regional Office (Kanwil) of Kemenhaj North Sulawesi, Wahyudin, in Manado on Friday. “I express my highest thanks and appreciation to the Governor for his attention and real commitment to Hajj pilgrims in North Sulawesi,” he added. He assessed this step as highly supportive and a form of the regional government’s favour towards the community. On the same occasion, North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus expressed great hopes that in the future, North Sulawesi could have its own Hajj embarkation point. This is considered important to improve efficiency, comfort, and the quality of services for Hajj pilgrims from the region. Governor Yulius Selvanus stated that this policy was taken as a form of concern from the North Sulawesi Provincial Government (Pemprov) towards the community, following the increase in avtur prices that directly impacts rising flight costs. Yulius emphasised that the presence of the government must be able to alleviate the burden on the community, especially in performing the Hajj pilgrimage, which is a pillar of Islam. The Head of the People’s Welfare Bureau of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, Anna Pangalila, expressed readiness to follow up on Governor Yulius’s policy. She affirmed that technical steps would soon be coordinated with relevant agencies. “We are ready to follow up on the Governor’s directive regarding the increase in the local Hajj pilgrim subsidy. Next, we will coordinate with the Head of the Regional Financial and Asset Agency (BKAD) of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government so that this policy can be quickly realised in accordance with applicable mechanisms,” said Anna Pangalila. The Kemenhaj meeting became an important momentum in strengthening collaboration between the regional government and vertical agencies to improve the quality of Hajj pilgrimage services, while providing concrete solutions for the people of North Sulawesi.