Pilgrimage demand set to double

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said here Saturday that 700,000 Moslems are expected to register for the haj pilgrimage next year, doubling the number of pilgrims in 1993.

Antara reported the minister as saying after a meeting with local Moslem students that despite the increase, Indonesia will still only be able to send 195,000, which is the quota allotted by Saudi Arabia.

Tarmizi said the increase in the number of pilgrims was a sign of increasing prosperity. Last year, 196,854 people went on the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. (swe)