The trust that led to a world record

For some, an Umrah journey may simply appear as a departure to a country thousands of kilometres from Indonesia. Yet for those undertaking it, Umrah is often the culmination of a long life journey. There is the small trader who sets aside daily profits, little by little, over many years. There is the elderly couple who waited for their children to become independent before realising their dream of worshipping in the Holy Land. There is also the worker who resisted the desire to buy many things because they wanted to save for a goal deemed more meaningful. Behind every departure, there is always a story of hope, patience, and sacrifice. Therefore, when someone chooses a travel organiser for their pilgrimage, what is at stake is not merely the cost of the trip. What is entrusted is a dream that has been nurtured for a long time. There is a sense of trust that an important spiritual journey in their life will be in the right hands. Thus, trust becomes something priceless. Trust also appears to be the common thread in the story of the Guinness World Records achievement won by Samira Travel in Saudi Arabia. At a glance, public attention might focus on the world record status achieved. However, upon closer examination, the award is actually only a small part of a larger story about how trust is built and maintained over a long period. The Hajj and Umrah travel organiser inscribed its name in the Guinness World Records for the category of largest halal outdoor dinner. The record was set during the company’s 9th anniversary celebration held in Saudi Arabia and attended by more than 10,000 participants. The award was later presented at the 10th anniversary event held in Indonesia. Founder and Owner of Samira Travel, Fauzi Wahyu Muntoro, explained that the achievement originated from a communal dining activity organised in a desert area of Saudi Arabia. More than 10,000 people participated in the event before it was submitted for Guinness World Records recognition. The award became the fourth achievement received by the company, after previously obtaining three records from the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI). Interestingly, what Fauzi conveyed most often was not about the record itself, but rather the importance of maintaining the trust of the pilgrims. This serves as a reminder that awards are often merely the final result visible to the public, while the foundation supporting them was built long beforehand through lengthy and not always visible work.