Luxury haj operators demand raised quota

Luxury haj operators demand raised quota

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Umroh and Haj Operators
(AMPUH), operators that offer more deluxe services on the haj
pilgrimage, are demanding an increase of their quota of pilgrims
from 7,500 to 10,000.

AMPUH's chairman, Mahfudz Djaelani, said that the quota for
the luxury service should be increased due to increased demand.

At a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission IX
for religion, education and sports, AMPUH gained qualified
support from the House.

The total quota allotted to Indonesia in next year's haj
pilgrimage is 200,000, a number which was filled in less than two
weeks after registration opened on Sept. 1.

The regular fare for the pilgrimage is Rp 8.8 million
(US$3,000).

But under AMPUH, the price is between $5,000 and $9,000. The
higher price is due to plush facilities which include
accommodations at a luxury hotel.

Mahfudz also argued that the number of operators in AMPUH had
increased from seven to 96 in the past few years. But only 50
operators are currently licensed to offer haj services, the other
operators are only allowed to provide umroh pilgrimage facilities
to Saudi Arabia.

The haj is conducted once a year while the umroh can be
carried out at any time of the year.

"Therefore, it would not be too much for AMPUH to ask the
government to increase the quota of luxury pilgrims," Mahfudz
said.

At yesterday's hearing, chaired by Ismael Hassan of the Golkar
faction, legislators agreed to support AMPUH's call for a larger
quota for the luxury haj pilgrimage.

But they stressed that haj pilgrims should not regard
themselves as an elite or exclusive group.

"Before God, all people are equal and that is the main purpose
of the haj," said Cholil Bisri of the United Development Party,

He added that AMPUH's proposal to increase the quota should
not be based on business interests alone.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher is currently
lobbying the Saudi Arabian government to increase Indonesia's
overall quota to 203,000, in accordance with Indonesia's
population of 200 million.

The quota ratio is usually one haj pilgrim for every 1,000
citizens of a country.

Should Indonesia's quota be increased, Mahfudz expects the
number allowed for luxury pilgrims to also rise.

"The quota increase should also result in the increase of
AMPUH's quota for the luxury pilgrimage," he said. (10)