Haj pilgrimage to cost Rp 19m to Rp 23m

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)