Holy sites

Holy sites

Recently our Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher issued a press release stating that Indonesia has requested a bigger quota for our people to go on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, but that the chances are very slim.

Since our government has given its consent for Indonesians to visit Jerusalem, I suggest that we make use of the opportunity to visit the Holy site in Jerusalem (Al Aqsa) for worship.

The Embassy of Israel in Singapore expressed its willingness to issue visas to Indonesian citizens to visit Jerusalem. In the past we had to arrange the visa in Singapore or in Egypt. But now it can be done through a Travel Agent in Indonesia who will arrange it with the Embassy of Israel in Singapore in less than a week.

The questions remaining are then: Is it going to be more expensive, the same or cheaper? How about accommodation? Which airlines service Indonesia-Jerusalem-Indonesia?

These questions are for a Travel Agency to answer. I also believe that Indonesian Travel Agents should be looking for ways to implement these opportunities.

EDWARD N.H. ABRAHAM

Jakarta