IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN INDONESIA

Abstract

The tomb of Sunan Giri is one of the well-known attractions of religious tourism in Gresik
Regency in Indonesia. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted all life structures, resulting in a
decrease in the number of visitors to the area. This study aims to explain the effect of the Covid19 pandemic on the existence of the religious tourism object of Sunan Giri Gresik. This study
uses a qualitative exploratory model with a historical approach. This research resulted in
several findings, namely that Covid-19 reduced the number of religious tourism visits to the
Sunan Giri Tomb which had an effect on the socio-economic conditions of the surrounding
community. Thus, it requires local and central government policies to make a middle ground
between the needs of workers in the tourism sector and efforts to reduce the number of Covid19 transmission.