Indonesia Eyes Increased Saudi Tourism Following Rising Hajj & Umrah Pilgrims
Indonesia Seeks to Balance Tourism with Religious Travel from Saudi Arabia
Jakarta – Indonesia is actively working to increase tourism from Saudi Arabia, aiming to create a more balanced exchange alongside the significant number of Indonesian citizens undertaking the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to the Kingdom, according to statements made on Tuesday.
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak expressed this hope during a celebration marking Saudi Founding Day in Jakarta. “We hope that in the future, visits by Saudi citizens to Indonesia will also increase as our haj and umrah pilgrims continue to grow,” he said.
Simanjuntak emphasized the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia as a partner for Indonesia, highlighting the necessity of maintaining strong governmental ties. He also noted Indonesia’s unique position as the only nation, besides Saudi Arabia itself, to have a dedicated ministry focused on Hajj and Umrah affairs, underscoring the importance of close bilateral coordination.
The two ministries maintain “intensive communication” to ensure smooth services for Indonesian pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia, Simanjuntak added. This ongoing collaboration is seen as a foundation for expanding the relationship beyond religious travel.
This year alone, approximately 2.6 million Indonesians traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, with a quota of 221,000 pilgrims approved for the Hajj. Simanjuntak expressed optimism that increased religious travel from Indonesia would naturally lead to a reciprocal rise in Saudi tourism to Indonesia.
The initiative to boost Saudi tourism aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s tourism sector, particularly within the Middle East. Recent discussions have centered on utilizing return flights from Saudi Arabia – currently used to transport Hajj pilgrims – to bring Saudi tourists to Indonesia, as reported by Travel and Tour World.
Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia, Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi, echoed the sentiment of strong bilateral ties, stating that relations between the two countries are deeply rooted in connections between their leaders and people. He noted that the relationship is progressing to a more strategic level, expressing hope for continued advancement.
“Cooperation between King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership continues to move toward a more strategic level,” Al-Amudi said. “These relations will continue to be strengthened to achieve our shared aspirations.”
The push for increased tourism comes as Indonesia also focuses on strengthening the economic ecosystem surrounding the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Efforts are underway to ensure that the economic benefits of these religious journeys are maximized and contribute to Indonesia’s overall economic growth, according to reporting from Jakarta Globe.
While Indonesia sends a substantial number of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia annually, the number of Saudi tourists visiting Indonesia remains comparatively low, at around 120,000 per year. The Indonesian government is actively seeking to address this imbalance through initiatives like the proposed use of return Hajj flights for tourism purposes.