Umrah Pilgrims Unable to Depart Did Not Initially Suspect Hanania Travel as Package Prices Deemed Standard

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Umrah pilgrims unable to depart with Hanania Travel initially had no suspicions about the agency. One pilgrim, Rosa (not her real name, 50), stated there were no initial indicators of fraud. “The payment procedure for the deposit and final payment was similar to other travel agencies, with the balance typically due within a month,” Rosa told KOMPAS.com at Hanania Travel’s branch office in the EightyEight building, Mal Kota Kasablanka (Kokas) area, South Jakarta, on Thursday (28 May 2026). Rosa added that Hanania Travel’s Umrah packages were in the mid-to-high range, starting from approximately Rp 29.9 million. Compared to other agencies, she said the pricing made prospective pilgrims more confident as it was not excessively cheap. “There are others charging Rp 23 million, Rp 24 million, up to Rp 25 million. Hanania isn’t extremely cheap, it’s standard. So we didn’t suspect anything initially,” Rosa said. Additionally, Hanania Travel holds a permit for organising Umrah pilgrimages, further boosting pilgrims’ confidence. Rosa was scheduled to depart in June-July 2026 with her husband and two children, having paid the full Umrah fees for four people in February 2026, totalling nearly Rp 120 million. However, during the waiting period, Rosa was unaware that the Syawal group (March 2026) had not departed first. The Syawal group was meant to depart before the June-July 2026 batch. Rosa only learned of the cancellation in March 2026, which came as a shock. “When the Syawal group failed to depart, it immediately raised red flags. I thought, ‘What will happen to me?’ and immediately sought a refund,” Rosa said. When applying for a refund, Rosa and her husband visited Hanania Travel’s branch office.