Government Examines 'Ticket Rush' System for Hajj to Eliminate Queues, Here's How It Would Work

The government is examining a scheme for organising Hajj pilgrimages without queues, while still ensuring protection for millions of prospective pilgrims who have been waiting for a long time. Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak stated that the concept is currently in the discussion stage and has not yet become a decision. “Now the President wants us to think about how to make Hajj without queuing. So, Hajj without queues. That’s what we’re formulating,” Dahnil said in Jakarta on Thursday. He explained that the long Hajj queues in Indonesia are inseparable from Hajj financial management, which has led to a continuous increase in the number of registrants, while the quota is limited. “The more there are (registrants), the longer the queue,” Dahnil said. As a comparison, Dahnil mentioned that several countries have different patterns in Hajj management. In Malaysia, long queues occur through the Hajj savings system, while in other countries like India, he said, the queuing scheme is not as long as in Indonesia. The government, he said, is examining the possibility of implementing a more flexible model, similar to a direct ticket purchase/ticket rush system (war tiket) according to the quota given by Saudi Arabia. “So we’re given a quota by Saudi Arabia of 200 thousand. Then we set the price. Then no need to queue. So each one directly books who gets it, that’s who departs,” he said. Nevertheless, he emphasised that the government still prioritises protection for pilgrims who have entered the waiting list earlier. “We’re thinking about that pattern. But of course, we must ensure those who have been queuing so far. There are now 5.7 million people queuing to go on Hajj. So how to protect them?” Dahnil said. “This we’re continuing to refine. Later I might explain the details, what the model is like. But this isn’t a decision, we’re continuously refining it so that the President’s wish for Hajj without queues can be realised,” he added.