RELIGIOUS TOURISM AS A HALAL TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze the contribution of religious tourism to the development of halal tourism in the regions. Religious tourism in this study includes Islamic religious-based tourist attractions, Islamic traditions, Islamic festivals, and Islamic local wisdom. This research was carried out in Pekalongan City, which is known as “Kota Santri” and its people are known to be religious. This study is categorized as field research. Two types of data are needed in this study, primary and secondary. Primary data is explored through observation and interviews, while secondary data is obtained through documentation studies on books, journal articles, research reports, websites, and so on. The data analysis method uses a content analysis strategy. From this study, it was concluded that this City has religious tourism in the form of Islamic traditions and cultures, Islamic festivals, Islamic local wisdom, and distinctive heritage. Of the various attractions of Islamic tourism, it can be an interesting halal tourism attraction. However, only some of them have been packaged into regional tourist products. To increase the number and strengthen regional halal tourism, it is necessary to identify, explore, and package into halal tourism products. The development of regional halal tourism that ignores religious tourism will lose the spirit of halal tourism.