BLITAR – Interest in the Hajj pilgrimage remains strong in Blitar despite a waiting list that now stretches up to 27 years for new applicants.
Local officials say thousands of residents have already secured spots in the queue to perform the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The long waiting period has not discouraged people from registering, and authorities continue to record steady demand for Hajj departures.
Purnomo, head of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office in Blitar City, said around 5,600 prospective pilgrims currently sit on the official waiting list.
He explained that the waiting period often changes depending on the pilgrimage quota that the Saudi Arabian government allocates each year. In recent years, quota adjustments significantly changed the estimated departure schedule for Indonesian pilgrims.
“The waiting period once reached 34 years. Last year it dropped to 26 years, and for 2026 the estimated waiting time is around 27 years,” Purnomo said.
Despite the decades-long queue, public enthusiasm remains high. Purnomo noted that daily registrations increased after authorities shortened the estimated waiting period.
Although the increase in Blitar remains moderate, national Hajj registrations have risen by more than 10 percent. The trend reflects strong demand among Indonesian Muslims who still hope to perform the pilgrimage despite rising costs and lengthy delays.
“Public interest remains very strong after the waiting period adjustment. The initial deposit for regular Hajj registration is still Rp 25 million,” he explained.
Purnomo also detailed the estimated Hajj costs for 2026. The national average cost reaches around Rp 87.4 million, while pilgrims who depart through the Surabaya embarkation point in East Java will spend approximately Rp 93 million.
Pilgrims must cover around Rp 60 million of the total cost as the Hajj travel payment, locally known as Bipih. Registrants already pay an initial deposit of Rp 25 million and receive benefit value assistance of around Rp 2 million. As a result, they only need to complete a remaining payment of roughly Rp 32 million before departure.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office in Blitar continues preparing this year’s Hajj departures. A total of 162 pilgrims from Blitar City will travel to Saudi Arabia in 2026.
The pilgrims will join Group 106 together with pilgrims from Blitar Regency and Trenggalek. According to the official schedule, the group will leave on May 18, 2026.
“We continue coordinating all technical preparations to ensure the departure process runs smoothly until the day of departure,” Purnomo added.
Indonesia remains one of the world’s largest contributors of Hajj pilgrims, which creates long waiting lists across many regions. In several provinces, prospective pilgrims must wait more than two decades before receiving a departure schedule.