E-Prosiding Persidangan Serantau Manasik Haji 2025 (MANASIK2025)

MANASIK2025 Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7-8 Oktober 2025 658 IMPROVING THE COMPETENCE OF MUTAWWIF IN THE HOLY LAND 1 Muhammad Daud Ibrahim , 2 Nawal Saidatal Ulya , 3 Hanah Susilawati , 4 Syarifah Gustiawati Mukri , Qolbu Dzakirilah (Corresponding author) 1 Hajj and Umrah Management, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Ibn Khaldun University, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia 2 Islamic Communication and Broadcasting, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Ibn Khaldun University, Bogor, Java West, Indonesia Emel: qodz080701@gmail.com ABSTRACT Student internship activities abroad, especially in Mecca al Mukarramah and Madina al Munawwarah, are a strategic means of strengthening professional competence in the field of Umrah worship services. Students of the Hajj and Umrah Management Study Program are directly involved in the role of mutawwif and tour leaders for Indonesia pilgrims during the Umrah season. This study aims to explore students’ experiences and identify the extent to which internship activities can improve service, communication, and worship management competencies. The study used a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques through participaory observation, in- depth interviews, and documentation. The subjects of the study involved 3 intern students and 50 pilgrims they accompanied. Data analysis was carried out using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, through data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study showed that students’ direct experiences in Mecca and Medina contributed significantly to strengthening their technical, spiritual, and interpersonal competencies as mutawwif and tour leaders. The conclusion of this study emphasizes the importance of integrating overseas internship programs into the curriculum of Islamic-based vocational education. Key words: student experience, competency strengthening, mutawwif, tour leader, overseas internship. INTRODUCTION Umrah pilgrim services represent one of the sectors that continues to grow along with the increasing interest of Muslims in performing worship in the Holy Land. Data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (2023) shows that more than 1.3 million Indonesian umrah pilgrims were dispatched to Saudi Arabia, placing Indonesia among the largest sending countries in the world. This condition demands the presence of competent professionals who can accompany, guide, and provide excellent services to pilgrims during the implementation of worship, particularly in the role of mutawwif and tour leader (Fallah, 2024). The overseas internship program organized by the Hajj and Umrah Management Study Program is a response to this need. Students are directly assigned to the field to accompany umrah pilgrims in ritual activities and city tours in both Makkah and Madinah. According to the Academic Handbook of the Hajj and Umrah Management Study Program (2025), this internship is expected to strengthen graduates’ learning outcomes through real experiences in managing worship services.