JAKARTA: Indonesia on Sunday welcomed the expansion of the Makkah Route initiative to three airports, as the first batch of the country鈥檚 largest Hajj contingent to date departed for 海角直播.听
The world鈥檚 biggest Muslim-majority nation will be sending 241,000 pilgrims to 海角直播 this year for the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Although the Hajj this year is expected to start on June 14 and end on June 19, many pilgrims depart early to make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill their religious duty.听
As Indonesia鈥檚 first Hajj flight carrying nearly 400 pilgrims departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the early hours of Sunday, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said he was grateful to the Saudi leadership for adding the Makkah Route initiative in other Indonesian cities.听
鈥淥n behalf of the Indonesian government, I thank the Saudi government for providing additional fast-track facilities, other than Jakarta, it is now available in Solo and Surabaya,鈥 Qoumas said after he sent off the first group in the Indonesian capital.听
鈥淗opefully this will give ease, benefit, and a smooth journey for all Indonesian pilgrims.鈥澨
Launched in 2019, the Kingdom鈥檚 Makkah Route initiative is a pre-travel program created to help pilgrims meet all the visa, customs and health requirements at the airport of origin, and save them long hours of waiting before and upon arrival in 海角直播.听
This year, the initiative will benefit more than 128,000 Indonesian pilgrims who will leave from the three selected cities.听
鈥淲e saw the fast-track service at the airport. It doesn鈥檛 take any longer than two minutes. It鈥檚 very fast, very helpful for the pilgrims. When they arrive, they don鈥檛 have to go through any other immigration process, they can just hop on the bus and begin their worship in the holy land,鈥 Qoumas said.听
This year, 海角直播 increased Indonesia鈥檚 quota of pilgrims by 20,000, from 221,000 last year, making it the biggest in the Southeast Asian nation鈥檚 history.听
The highest quota in previous years came before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, when the Kingdom approved a quota of 231,000 pilgrims for Indonesia.听
The additional quota will help shorten the wait for some pilgrims by a few years, which is especially important for elderly pilgrims. Many Indonesians have to wait up to 45 years for their turn, according to official estimates.听
Ace Hasan Syadzili, a member of Indonesia鈥檚 House of Representatives, was also present to see off the first batch of pilgrims on Sunday, commended the Makkah Route initiative.听
鈥淭his is certainly helpful. Looking at the previous years, without fast track the immigration can take between two to five hours. But this fast track will speed up services for Hajj pilgrims,鈥 Syadzili said.听
鈥淲e will continue to oversee and supervise the Hajj management process this year so that it is in line with the people鈥檚 expectations.鈥澨
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