Dream - The Working Committee (Panja) of the VIII Commission of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) has agreed to propose the cost of organizing the Hajj pilgrimage (BPIH) for the year 2024 amounting to IDR 93.4 million. "After a series of discussion meetings and studies on the initial proposal for the Hajj pilgrimage cost, we, together with the members of the VIII Commission who are part of the working committee or Panja, finally agreed that the Cost of Organizing the Hajj Pilgrimage (BPIH) 1445 H/2024 M is IDR 93.4 million," said the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizing Hilman Latief in Jakarta, Thursday, November 23, 2023.

"So, this Rp93.4 million is only at the Panja agreement level. It will later be brought to the plenary session in the Raker of Commission VIII and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The agreement reached in the Raker will be proposed to the President," explained Hilman. "So, how much is the cost of the pilgrimage paid by the pilgrims (Bipih), has not been determined. We are waiting for how much BPKH will allocate for the Value of Benefits budget. Because the cost borne by the pilgrims also depends on the Value of Benefits allocated by BPKH," he continued.

The decrease in BPIH occurred due to adjustments in several financing components. For example, the initial proposal for flights averaged Rp36,018 million, but after discussing it together in the cost committee, it could be reduced to Rp33,427 million. Price adjustments also occurred in the accommodation component in Makkah, from an initial proposal of SAR 4,653.00 to SAR 4,230.00.

"Adjustments to costs can also be made to the consumption of pilgrims, which initially was priced at SAR 18.50, but decreased to SAR 16.50 for lunch and dinner, and SAR 10.00 for breakfast," explained Hilman. "One of the significant components is the exchange rate of the Dollar and Riyal. After discussing with financial experts, Panja agreed to change the proposed exchange rate of the Dollar from Rp16,000 to Rp15,600. Meanwhile, the proposed exchange rate of the Saudi Riyal changed from Rp4,266.67 to Rp4,160," he continued.

Year 2024 during the stay in Makkah, the congregation fully receives consumption services, totaling 84 meals. Third, the difference between the Dollar and Riyal exchange rates. In 2023, the agreed exchange rates for the Dollar and Riyal were Rp15,150 and Rp4,040. Meanwhile, according to the discussion results of the BPIH Panel in 2024, the agreed exchange rate for the Dollar is Rp15,600 and for the Riyal is Rp4,160.