The Indonesian government is currently stepping on the gas to develop an integrated Hajj and Umrah economic ecosystem. This strategic step was taken to transform the organization of pilgrimage from solely focusing on service aspects into a driver of the national economy, with an estimated money circulation reaching IDR 80 trillion per year.
Director General of Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem Development, Jaenal Effendi, emphasized that the huge potential of pilgrim mobility must be able to absorb domestic products, services, and business participation. So far, the penetration of Indonesian products continues to be strengthened, including through the export of more than 300 tons of Indonesian spices and millions of ready-to-eat meal packages for pilgrims in the Holy Land.
Echoing the government, the Association of Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (Amphuri) highlighted the need for Indonesia's vision to become the center of the world's Hajj economic ecosystem. Amphuri Secretary General, Ahmad Zaky Zakariya Anshary, stated that through eight main pillars—including the development of digital marketplaces and innovation centers—Indonesia can maximize the economic value chain, ranging from the logistics sector to fashion products and halal pharmaceuticals.
Behind this optimism, major challenges still loom. Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Marwan Dasopang, provided critical notes regarding the potential increase in the Hajj Pilgrimage Cost (BPIH) in 2027. The weakening of the rupiah against foreign currencies and potential tax adjustments in Saudi Arabia are key variables triggering concerns over cost increases.
Despite significant cost pressures, the government continues to seek efficiency loopholes, one of which is through the optimization of the transportation and tourism sectors. The utilization of empty flights to attract tourists from the Middle East to Indonesia is expected to be an innovative solution so that the economic benefits of this sector remain sustainable for the wider public.
