Haj pilgrimage to cost Rp 19m to Rp 23m

JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives have agreed to set the cost of the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia next year at between Rp 19 million and Rp 23 million.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between religious affairs minister Tolchah Hasan, finance minister Bambang Sudibyo and House Commissions VI and IX for religious affairs and finance respectively late on Tuesday.

The cost of this year's pilgrimage was Rp 17.76 million.

In contrast to previous years, Antara reported that the cost would likely vary slightly for those leaving from the three different embarkation zones.

Those traveling from Aceh, the North Sumatra capital of Medan, and Batam for the pilgrimage would only have to pay between Rp 19 million and Rp 21.5 million while those embarking in Jakarta, Surakarta and Surabaya would have to pay between Rp 20 million and Rp 22 million.

Those leaving from the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar and the East Kalimantan city of Balikpapan should pay between Rp 21 million and Rp 23 million.

Tolchah said the precise cost would be announced by his ministry later this month or early August.

He also said he was optimistic that the number of pilgrims next year would meet the quota of about 205,000 people set by the Saudi Arabian government.

The country almost always met its quota of about 200,000 pilgrims until the economic crisis struck in 1997 and drastically reduced participation.

Many hoped that the cost would not be increased even if the rupiah continued to plunge in value.

The cost of the haj usually covers a round-trip air ticket (Jakarta-Jeddah-Jakarta), living costs in Saudi Arabia and administrative fees. (byg)