TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak announced that the government has secured permission from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for Indonesian carriers to transport passengers on return flights during the Hajj season.
As a result, Dahnil noted, starting next year, aircraft capacity that previously flew back to Indonesia empty will be utilized to bring travelers from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations to various domestic tourist destinations. "The President has instructed that planes transporting Hajj pilgrims must not return empty," Dahnil said in a written statement on Friday, June 26, 2026.
According to Dahnil, this policy aligns with government efforts to optimize the logistical arrangements of Hajj aviation. In addition to improving operational efficiency, the move aims to build a more productive Hajj economic ecosystem by encouraging incoming tourism from Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East while strengthening the national aviation industry.
To implement the policy, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has established a joint task force alongside the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Tourism, and national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. This task force is tasked with drafting technical regulations and operational frameworks, as well as reinforcing inter-ministerial and institutional coordination to execute the mandate.
Dahnil highlighted that this policy holds the potential to unlock broader economic benefits for Indonesia. Each year, roughly 3.2 million Indonesian citizens travel for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, contributing substantially to the economy.
Therefore, he stated, President Prabowo Subianto wants to ensure these travels do not merely trigger a capital outflow, but also stimulate cash inflows by boosting visits from Middle Eastern tourists to bolster the national economy.
Read: How Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Aim to Boost Tourism Ties
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