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View all search resultsIndependent 'umrah' travel opens business opportunities
Tighter integration between banks, insurers and online travel portals could spur the pilgrim travel economy and give rise to products catering to individual travelers, balancing accessibility with consumer protection.
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New high-rise buildings stand in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as the city increases its capacity to accommodate more pilgrims. (JP/Endy M. Bayuni)
“It’s really that simple. Just like going on a vacation to Singapore,” Ricka said, describing her recent independent umrah (minor haj) trip with her husband, a journey that cost only a little more than half of what she would have paid through a travel agency.
Her experience reflects a shift among Indonesian Muslims, who are beginning to explore independent umrah travel, now officially approved of by the government.
Under Law No. 14/2025, travelers can now make their own arrangements for flights, hotels, transportation and meals and still enjoy legal protection reserved for pilgrims, provided they comply with Saudi Arabia’s entry requirements.
The new law ensures independent umrah pilgrims remain entitled to protection as Indonesian citizens abroad, even though they do not enjoy service-related protection, such as for flights, accommodation or insurance, Muhammad Rahmad, Jakarta coordinator for the Association of Indonesian Haj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri), explained in the association’s publication on Oct. 30.
The changed policy opens up a new segment in Indonesia’s multibillion-dollar pilgrim travel industry, long characterized by agency-organized group tour packages.
Cheaper and more flexible
Financial and practical reasons convinced Ricka to go on umrah without a group.
