Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, on Sunday, headed to Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ta'limatul Hajj, or the Ministry of Hajj and Umra of the gulf state's guidance regarding Hajj.
"Today, we are heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to sign the Ta'limatul Hajj. This shows the continuation of the government's services for Indonesian pilgrims," Minister Qoumas said at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, prior to his departure for Saudi Arabia.
Qoumas' working visit to Saudi Arabia is scheduled until January 11, 2024. During his visit, he has a number of agendas related to the government's efforts to improve Hajj services.
The agendas include monitoring the preparedness of Hajj services for Indonesian pilgrims related to accommodation, transportation, and food provision.
The Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry's Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah has been working on the preparation for Hajj accommodation since late November last year.
Officials from the directorate general have been striving to ensure proper services of hotels, buses, and food for Indonesia's prospective pilgrims this year.
"We will also take part in a Hajj conference on January 8, 2024, in Jeddah. I hope this mission will get a success," Qoumas remarked.
He also highlighted his plan to appeal to the Saudi Arabian government for an additional quota for Indonesian Hajj officers, which currently stands at around 4,000 people.
Initially, Indonesia's pilgrim quota for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage was capped at 221 thousand. However, Indonesia managed to secure an additional quota of 20,000 following a meeting between President Joko Widodo and Saudi Arabian Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud in October 2023.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
