Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (AntaraNews NTT) - Holy Friday religious procession in the city of Reinha Larantuka in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, has become a religious tourism event, a local tourism official said here on Tuesday (27/3).

"It has been put in the calendar of tourism events while the day is also a national holiday," Welly Rohimond said to Antara.

In view of that he said the provincial government has for the past few years given financial aid to the people for the rehabilitation of their homes to receive tourists that would come from various countries and parts of the country.

He said all houses that receive tourists are registered and it was the tourism service that will offer them to tourists. Peziarah berjalan di belakang Patung Tuan Ma (Bunda Maria)saat prosesi Semana Santa mengantar Patuan Tuan Ma dan Patung Tuan Ana ke Katedral. (Foto Antara/Kornelis Kaha) "The provincial government gives aid to empower the people so they would get economic benefits from the event," he said.

The Holy Friday procession that falls on March 30 this year is a sacred tradition of Roman Catholics in Larantuka to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death and it has been carried out in the region for hundreds of years.

The religious tradition which was a Portuguese heritage has lived for more than 500 years starting when the Portuguese disseminated Catholicism in Nusa Tenggara islands while trading sandalwood.