Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Arnaud Nicolas MAWEL
Published on 2024-03-01 15:06:12
The President of the Hajj Commission has made public the amount to be paid by pilgrims this year to travel to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, who is also the President of the National Hajj Commission, “the price of the 2024 Hajj is 3,267,942 CFA francs, which is a slight increase compared to 2023”. This increase is about 33,100 CFA francs. In 2023, the Hajj price outside of the state subsidy was 3,234,800 CFA francs. The year before that, the price was 3,294,000 CFA francs.
Given the context marked by inflation in Saudi Arabia, the President of the Hajj Commission argues that the increase is “slight”. Because, in the host country, VAT has increased, and there is a scarcity of housing. “The high dollar exchange rate substantially impacts all services,” explains the government official. Registrations have begun and will end on March 15, 2024. This price is for the faithful who are able to travel at their own expense.
It is noted that with the state subsidy, the price of the collective Hajj in 2023 was set at 2,918,268 CFA francs, compared to 2,924,000 CFA francs in 2022, representing a decrease of 5,732 CFA francs. In 2022, following the President’s subsidy, the price of the collective Hajj decreased from 3,294,000 CFA francs to 2,924,000 CFA francs, a decrease of 370,000 CFA francs.
The President of the Hajj Commission has emphasized that despite the slight increase in the Hajj price for 2024, it is necessary due to factors such as inflation in Saudi Arabia, the rise in VAT, and the high dollar exchange rate. The registration deadline for pilgrims who can cover their own expenses is March 15, 2024. The President also highlighted the role of the state subsidy in making the Hajj more accessible and affordable for pilgrims.
Read the original article(French) on Journal du Cameroun
