Six Weaknesses in Ministry of Hajj's 'Umrah One Stop Service' Programme Identified by Observer

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) is developing an integrated Umrah service programme (one stop services) by combining services from three agencies simultaneously — the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with optimised use of hajj dormitory roles, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas), and Garuda Indonesia.

Through this concept, pilgrims or travel agencies using Garuda Indonesia’s services can commence the entire departure process directly from hajj dormitories, including final ritual guidance (manasik), city check-in for luggage handling and boarding pass printing, and immigration processing.

Hajj and Umrah observer Mustolih Siradj said the purpose of the one stop services programme was intended to strengthen the Umrah ecosystem so that the state could gain benefits from the more significant economic potential of millions of pilgrims per season.

However, Mustolih also highlighted a number of fundamental weaknesses. “The programme appears to still require further study and its argumentative basis and mitigation measures need to be strengthened, as it still harbours quite fundamental weaknesses from both conceptual and operational aspects,” Mustolih told Republika on Tuesday (17 February 2026).

One of the conceptual weaknesses highlighted is that the Umrah one stop services programme positions the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah as an operator — similar to managing regular hajj — whereas for Umrah matters, the government should function as a regulator and supervisor.

The government has emphasised that the One Stop Services programme is an option, not a mandatory requirement for Umrah pilgrims. Currently, the concept is still in the maturation stage, and the government plans to designate one hajj dormitory as a pilot project before eventually expanding to various regions across Indonesia.

The government has also opened opportunities for other airlines to participate so that the integrated service can be enjoyed by more pilgrims in the future.