THE ROLE OF UMRAH TRAVEL IN SUPPORTING THE INDONESIAN ECONOMY: EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM AT PT AL KAUTSAR MEDAN

Abstract

The umrah travel industry is one of the strategic sectors in Indonesia's economy that significantly contributes to national income, employment absorption, and the development of sharia-based economics. However, public literacy regarding Islamic economics, umrah financial planning, and the role of the religious travel industry in supporting the national economy remains relatively low. This community service activity aims to improve Islamic economic literacy, equip participants with umrah financial planning skills, and educate the public about the strategic contribution of the umrah travel industry to Indonesia's economy. The partner organization is PT Al Kautsar Medan, one of the leading umrah travel companies in Medan. The implementation method used a participatory approach through three main stages: preparation, implementation (lectures, Focus Group Discussion, financial literacy training, and umrah financial planning simulation), and evaluation. The activity was attended by 45 participants consisting of prospective umrah pilgrims, the general public, MSME practitioners, and religious communities. The results showed an average improvement in participants' understanding from 36.6% in the pre-test to 84% in the post-test, with a participant satisfaction rate of 93%. This program effectively improved Islamic economic literacy and encouraged behavioral changes in participants' financial management as a basis for sustainable economic empowerment.