DOT eyes Philippines as ‘religious pilgrimage’ hub

The Department of Tourism is planning to make the country a "religious pilgrimage" destination by restoring and developing historical shrines and old churches all over the archipelago.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said that the proposed project will also be part of the preparations for the 2021 commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu.

"The Philippines is an ideal destination of religious pilgrimage, not only for sight-seeing but to actually experience the time-honored Filipino traditions dating back to pre-Spanish era, and then the Christianization period," Teo said in a statement.

The DOT said that almost two million people have gathered in Cebu City to witness one of the most popular festivals in the Philippines: Sinulog, or the feast of Santo Niño.

Such religious festivities, the DOT said, show the country's "potentials of drawing more international visitors, who seek to personally witness and experience unique traditions, particularly Filipinos' veneration and devotion to Jesus Christ."

Teo said that there are around 6.6 million Catholic faithful in Asia which could be the "prospective market" for "faith-based tourism" in the country.

DOT Faith Tourism director Marissa Diploma said that they are coordinating with tour operators in order to come up with "spiritual tour packages" that will attract millions of visitors. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/BM, GMA News