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Special Report: Bad service nightmares haunt gullible ‘umrah’ pilgrims
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The waiting game: People from Central Java wait for their departures for umrah trips in Soekarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang, Banten. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
A
n Indonesian adage “teliti sebelum membeli” (scrutinize before buying) is the perfect warning for Indonesian Muslims planning to perform the umrah (minor haj) to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as without enough knowledge and information, these aspiring pilgrims are vulnerable to widespread fraud committed by rogue traders who are not afraid to exploit people’s innocence for profit.
Umrah journeys are a dreamcome-true for many people who aspire to experience a spiritual journey. But for some, the trip, which is not cheap, can turn into a nightmare, as irresponsible travel agencies take advantage of the big
umrah business in the most populous Muslim-majority country. The Association of Haj and
Umrah Private Operators in Indonesia has estimated that the country’s umrah business, which involves 847 registered travel agencies, is worth about US$1 billion annually.
The business is getting bigger too, with pilgrim numbers showing an upward trend from year to year.
Data from the Religious Affairs Ministry shows a 63.6 percent jump in the number of umrah pilgrims to 818,000 in 2016, from only 500,000 in 2012. This year, the Saudi Embassy in Jakarta has predicted that the number of umrah pilgrims will reach up to 1 million people.
This rising trend is driven mostly by the increasing number of middle-class Muslims across the archipelago. Usually popular only for the rich in big cities, the spiritual trips have also become a new trend in small cities and villages.
