Ministry of Religion Bans Digital Umrah, Here's the Minister of Communication and Information's explanation
Recently, there was news that the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) would make digital Umrah, but the Ministry of Religion forbade the plan. Rudiantara, as the Minister of Communication and Information, emphasized that the concept of digital Umrah is not the same as the Hajj and Umrah organizing body.
“The point is cooperation in the digital field. Because we actually see it from the side of Saudi Arabia itself. We want to go for Umrah to Saudi Arabia, it’s impossible to go to other countries. So the bargaining power is in them. Now they themselves have the desire or prepare for the Umrah, the number will be 30 million by 2030.”
Rudiantara
This plan has been discussed previously with the Ministry of Religion, even the development of digital Umrah is also monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu). He also added that what is being prepared at this time is the travel process or a way of traveling for Umrah, not even interfering in matters of worship.
“There will only be an additional Umrah process later, not the existing one. If the current one continues. For example, how about adding 20 million umrah in Saudi? how about the hotel is it enough or not? Is that what you think about this new way of homestay? then the transportation is also in a new way. For example, the Uber model, Gocar” he said
In this way, Kominfo plans to make digital Umrah. The discourse will also be implemented after an agreement with the Saudi Arabian government authorities. The development of this service will also work with Traveloka and Tokopedia.
Until now, the Ministry of Religion has had its own process, namely through the PPIU. If there is a market place that wants to join, they suggest using an existing platform and following the rules that have been set.