Surabaya Government Introduces Religious Tourism Places to Students

Reported by Abdul Hakim Surabaya, E Java, (Antara) - The Surabaya city government introduced religious tourism to hundreds of elementary and junior high school students by taking them to religious tourism places in the city on Monday and Tuesday. It is the third year in a row that the city government has carried out the activity aimed at introducing religious tourism places to the students and strengthening their knowledge of religion as early as possible, head of the public amusement recreation of the Surabaya city culture and tourism office Fauzi M. Yos said. \"The activity is also aimed at fostering a sense of mutual respect among students of different faiths,\" he said. Some 400 elementary and junior high school students of different faiths joined the two-day activity. They were taken to a number of religious tourism places including Klenteng (Chinese place of worship) Pak Kik Bio, Sunan Ampel Mosque, Agung Jagat Karana Temple, Catholic Church Kelahiran Santa Perawan Maria, and Cheng Ho Mosque. In each of the religious tourism sites, the students were briefed on the history and development of the places of worship. \"I am pleased with the students\' visit to know the history in Surabaya. The history will motivate them to do good things,\" spokesman of Sunan Ampel Mosque Zaid Muhammad said. (*)