PERAN GRAHA MARIA ANNAI VELANGKANNI DALAM MENDORONG PARIWISATA RELIGI DI KOTA MEDAN

Abstract

Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni is one of the iconic religious tourism destinations in Medan City, North Sumatra. This place not only functions as a place of worship for Catholics, but also becomes a tourist attraction because of its unique architecture and spiritual atmosphere that is open to all religions. This study aims to examine the contribution of Graha Maria in the development of religious tourism in Medan City. The method used is descriptive qualitative through literature studies, observations, and interviews. The results of the study show that Graha Maria plays an important role in increasing tourist visits, strengthening tolerance between religious communities, and providing a positive economic impact on the surrounding community. This finding emphasizes the importance of inclusive religious destination management as part of sustainable tourism development.