JAKARTA - Hajj and umrah travel agents claim that the Saudi government’s single-price hajj and umrah visa policy, which sets hajj and umrah visa price at 300 Saudi riyals, will result in lower amount of pilgrims from Indonesia. The single-price visa policy was recently announced by the Saudi government as part of the Saudi Vision 2030.
Hajj and Umrah Organisers’ Association Chairman Baluki Ahmad explained that in the new scheme each pilgrim must pay 300 riyals as well as other components.
“The Saudi government should not have done this. They could have got enough from foreign exchange,” Mr Ahmad told Bisnis Indonesia last weekend.
In addition, Mr Ahmad added, pilgrims must also pay an additional 500 riyals. In total, to practise hajj or umrah each pilgrim must spend at least 800 riyals or Rp 2.99 million. (MS)