Indonesia exploring Hajj, Umrah via sea
The Indonesian government is exploring the possibility of pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia via sea, reports Tempo
JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) – The Indonesian government is exploring the possibility of pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia via sea, reports Tempo.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar stated that the plan for Hajj pilgrimage by sea is one of the outcomes of President Prabowo Subianto’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
He mentioned that the ministry has initiated communication with the Saudi authorities to realize the plan. “Looking ahead, we believe that introducing Umrah and Hajj through sea vessels is very prospective,” Nasaruddin said in a statement last week.
Nasaruddin revealed the reasons behind this idea. He explained that the government hopes to provide a more cost-effective arrangement for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage via sea route compared to air travel. He stated that this would make the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage more inclusive for all layers of society, both the poor and the rich.
The government also believes that using sea transportation will allow prospective Hajj pilgrims from countries in the Asian region to access the Holy Land through ports such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Nasaruddin claimed that many companies have come to his office to present the concept of Hajj pilgrimage via sea route. However, these companies do not have ships yet. “It is only possible if they also collaborate with external parties,” Nasaruddin said.
He stated that sea vessels have a high capacity and Saudi Arabia has facilities for Hajj via sea route. Regarding the cost, he mentioned that it could be inexpensive if many operators participate. “If there is intense competition, it could be cheap,” he said.
However, Nasaruddin stated that the idea of conducting Hajj via sea route is still in the initial study phase.
Nasaruddin mentioned that the use of sea vessels for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage is not new. In the past, he said, Indonesia had ships such as Belle Abeto and Gunung Jati that carried Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. “But it took three to four months. Now maybe the ships are faster and there are sea routes as well,” he said.
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