Predominantly Catholics, throngs of Filipinos are going on a spiritual pilgrimage to Europe this Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church, which takes place every 25 years in remembrance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The ailing Pope Francis has themed this Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope as the faithful are encouraged to make pilgrimage in Rome and Jubilee churches around the world and obtain plenary indulgences for the forgiveness of sins.
Travel Specialist Ventures managing director, Rowena Coloma, noted that as a result of “very strong demand for Europe… most hotels in Rome are full this year”.
Coloma noted a number of tour offerings focused on mono Italy, mono Spain and mono France, and the continuing popularity of pilgrimages to Marian apparition and miraculous sites, with extension to Paris for shopping and leisure.
Miki Travel CEO Asia Division, Olivier Moeschler, observed that Philippine outbound to Europe has started getting stronger since 2023, not just for religious pilgrimages but also for family travel and emerging activities like river cruising and to emerging destinations like the Balkans and Nordic countries.
Europe’s allure, Moeschler said, is such that the Philippines is Miki Travel’s fastest growing market to Europe, with Singapore ranking second.
Pilgrimage is not the only reason why Filipinos flock to Europe. Amkor Travel and Tours owner and operations manager, Marianne Malinao Tismo, said travellers are shifting to Europe as Holy Land pilgrimage destinations are not yet open and due to the longer processing period for Japan visa application.
This year, Tismo said the volume of pilgrimage groups to Europe will start departing by April and that they are now preparing for departure October onwards.
