TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII is scheduled to meet with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Tuesday, July 7, to discuss the cost of the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage, which is expected to rise from this year’s level.
Why Hajj Costs Could Rise
The expected increase is driven by several factors, including rising prices in Saudi Arabia, higher aviation fuel costs, increased service fees imposed by the Saudi government, and the weakening of the Indonesian rupiah against the U.S. dollar.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has acknowledged that the 2027 Hajj Organizing Cost (BPIH) is likely to increase, although he has not disclosed the projected amount.
“It is very likely that there will be an increase, but we will do our best to ensure that any adjustment does not place an excessive burden on our pilgrims,” Irfan said at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta on Sunday, July 5, as quoted by Antara.
He also noted that Saudi Arabia has upgraded its Hajj service package from Category D to Category C, resulting in higher service costs.
Can the Increase Be Avoided?
Despite the projected rise, Commission VIII Chairman Marwan Dasopang said the increase could still be minimized if the ministry succeeds in persuading the Saudi Arabian government to reduce several cost components.
One proposal, he said, is to utilize aircraft returning empty after transporting Indonesian pilgrims to carry tourists, thereby lowering flight costs.
“We will present ideas like this tomorrow and set a deadline so we can decide the Hajj travel cost. As for how much the increase will be, we will assess it first,” Marwan told reporters at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Monday, July 6.
The National Awakening Party (PKB) lawmaker said the government also needs a new approach to calculating next year’s Hajj costs, warning that keeping fees unchanged without finding efficiencies could ultimately reduce the quality of services provided to pilgrims.
“If we use the same calculation method as last year, the quality of services will inevitably decline, unless the Ministry of Hajj can convince the Saudi authorities to lower some of the operational costs,” he said.
The government is expected to discuss the guidelines for determining the 2027 Hajj Organizing Cost (BPIH) and the Hajj Travel Cost (Bipih) with Commission VIII, the ministry’s parliamentary partner.
The Hajj Organizing Cost (BPIH) for 2026 was set at Rp87.4 million (approximately US$5,300) per pilgrim, down Rp2 million from Rp89.4 million in 2025.
The 2026 cost was approved by the government and the House of Representatives during a working meeting on October 29, 2025.
Read: Indonesia Signals Possible Hajj Cost Increase for 2027
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