Sacred Pathways: Catholic Pilgrimage Journeys Through Flores

TheIndonesia.co - Travelers heading to Labuan Bajo are being encouraged to expand their journeys beyond the breathtaking natural scenery and explore the rich Catholic heritage spread across Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) sees religious tourism as a way to offer visitors not just beauty—but meaning.

“You’re not just coming for the landscapes. You can enrich your journey with visits to sacred sites—old churches, Marian grottos, and spiritual centers. These places offer a holistic travel experience and deepen the soul’s encounter with Flores,” said Acting CEO of BPOLBF, Frans Teguh, on Wednesday, according to Antara News Agency.

Flores and the surrounding islands are home to a unique concentration of Catholic religious destinations. From historical churches to tranquil prayer gardens, the island presents a spiritual journey intertwined with local culture and natural wonder. These sites invite travelers and pilgrims alike to step into a slower, more reflective rhythm—one that balances inner stillness with outer exploration.

BPOLBF aims to make religious tourism a cornerstone of Flores’ travel offerings, not only as an alternative to Komodo National Park but as a central, enriching part of the island’s story. With a predominantly Catholic population and centuries-old traditions, Flores offers visitors an authentic spiritual landscape shaped by faith and devotion.

To further develop and promote this concept, BPOLBF will host a table-top business forum on May 15, 2025. The event will connect religious tourism stakeholders—including dioceses, church communities, and pilgrimage site managers—with potential tourism operators and buyers.

“We want to bring together those who manage pilgrimage sites—whether monasteries, Marian shrines, or historic churches—with travel professionals. It’s about creating meaningful, well-managed tour packages that offer comfort and authenticity to pilgrims,” said Frans.

The upcoming forum is expected to facilitate coordination and communication among various dioceses and local church authorities, ensuring that religious destinations are ready to welcome pilgrims. Efforts will focus on improving visitor facilities, developing storytelling around sacred sites, and integrating spiritual itineraries into broader tourism offerings.

BPOLBF has already partnered with several key religious institutions and local governments across Flores. Collaborations include the Diocese of Ruteng, the Archdiocese of Ende, and the dioceses of Maumere and Larantuka, as well as tourism offices from Manggarai Barat to Flores Timur. These partnerships have resulted in the creation of a detailed Catholic Pilgrimage Travel Map, launched in conjunction with World Tourism Day on September 27, 2024.

The map outlines 54 religious destinations across Flores, stretching from west to east. Sites include historic churches, chapels, Marian caves, prayer gardens, religious monuments, and retreat houses. Together, they offer a sacred thread that weaves through the island—an invitation to walk in the footsteps of faith, grace, and cultural memory.

“These sacred locations are not only spiritual spaces, they are also cultural treasures,” said Frans. “They tell stories of how faith shaped Flores—from the arrival of early missionaries to today’s vibrant Catholic communities.”

The initiative is not only spiritual in intent but strategic in reach. Religious tourism—considered a "special interest" market segment—accounts for roughly 20 to 30 percent of tourist activity in many regions. With the strong Catholic identity of Flores, the island is well-positioned to attract pilgrims from across Indonesia, including from populous Catholic communities in Java, Bali, and Sumatra.

By promoting pilgrimage travel, BPOLBF hopes to encourage more evenly distributed tourism throughout the island, alleviating pressure on popular hotspots like Komodo National Park and boosting the local economies of inland and eastern districts.

Flores’ religious destinations do more than attract the faithful—they offer all visitors the chance to experience travel as a journey inward. A moment to breathe, to reflect, to connect. Whether you're lighting a candle in a centuries-old stone church or pausing in silence before a statue of the Virgin Mary tucked into a forest grotto, these places ask something rare of travelers: to be still.

At a time when travel often moves too fast, the Catholic pilgrimage sites of Flores offer a different path—one that leads not just across beautiful landscapes, but into the heart of spiritual discovery.