Saudi Arabia offers piercing platform make easier Indonesian people perform Umrah
Illustration of Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. (Via Reuters/Saudi Ministry of Media)
-- To be able to perform the Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, Indonesians are advised to use the Nusuk platform, which belongs to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nusuk can not only be used for Umrah, but also for visits to Saudi Arabia.
Director of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamiduddin, revealed that the offer of Nusuk platform facilities was given because of Indonesia's respected status and Indonesia's urgency in the eyes of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"Indonesian citizens can now visit historical sites in the two holy cities and explore the famous tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia, which are rich in nature, heritage and culture. "They can stay in the Kingdom for up to 90 days a year," said Fahd Hamiduddin in a release received by CNNIndonesia.com.
He said that the Saudi Arabian Tourism Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, launched the "Nusuk" platform in 2022. The aim is to provide a comprehensive range of digital information and services.
According to Fahd Hamiduddin, Nusuk makes the Umrah pilgrimage easier than before. This initiative is included in the "Guests from Allah" program, which is one of the initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Hamimuddin explained that the close relationship between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began in the late 1940s (1948). Both countries are active members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the G20, and both have special relations both at the official and public levels in general.
According to the official Saudi Arabian Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Arabia receives more than one million Umrah pilgrims and visitors from Indonesia throughout the year. However, last year was a very significant year for pilgrims from Indonesia, with the number reaching 1.5 million pilgrims. This emphasizes how important Indonesia is as a country with the largest Muslim majority in the world.
The Nusuk platform also includes Indonesian in its One Stop Call Center service for pilgrims and visitors, which operates 24/7. Through Nusuk, Indonesian women can also travel alone to Saudi Arabia without needing a guardian to accompany them.
The Umrah travel and tourism experience of visitors from Indonesia will also be richer with Nusuk, because it facilitates exploration of various activities, events, historical sites and famous locations in Mecca and Medina.
This includes access to a travel and tourism platform to book various programs and packages provided by 200 commercial partners. These partners offer high-quality and efficient accommodation, transportation, airline tickets and logistics services.
What's interesting about the Nusuk platform is that Indonesian citizens can more easily obtain a visa when arriving at the Saudi border if they have an official visa for the United States, United Kingdom or the European Schengen area.
If you obtain an Umrah visa through the Nusuk platform or a licensed Umrah travel agent in Indonesia affiliated with the platform, this visa allows the holder to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days per year, allowing visits to any location in the country, not just inMecca and Medina.
It should be noted, those who intend to perform Umrah must register first on the Nusuk platform. Don't forget to download the Nusuk application on Google Playstore or Apple Store.