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This study explores the Village Cross as a symbol of inculturation, integrating Catholic faith with the Nosu Minu Podi ritual in Dusun Perintis, Balai Sebut Village, Sanggau Regency. Nosu Minu Podi, a post-harvest rice ritual, originally centered on the ancestral statue (Pantak) as the main focus of worship. The introduction of Catholicism led to a symbolic transformation, replacing the Pantak with the Village Cross while maintaining ancestral values and harmonizing them with Catholic practices. This research uses a qualitative approach combining ethnography and contextual theology. Data were collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and field documentation. Findings reveal that the Village Cross serves dual functions: as a religious symbol affirming God’s presence and spiritual protection, and as a marker of social and cultural identity. This transformation strengthens community solidarity, preserves traditional practices, and provides a medium for faith formation among youth. The study highlights that inculturation enables the integration of local traditions with religious teachings, creating space for contextual, inclusive, and practical pastoral approaches. It contributes to scholarly understanding of the interplay between religion, culture, and community identity, emphasizing the enduring relevance of local wisdom in contemporary religious practice.

The Salib Kasih tourist attraction is one of the leading potential tourist attractions in North Tapanuli district which offers spiritual tourism as well as natural and cultural panoramas. The purpose of this research is to determine the Development Strategy for the Salib Kasih tourist attraction. Salib Kasih is a tourist attraction created to commemorate the services of Christian missionary from Germany Ingwer Ludwig Nommensen who began his mission in Batak Land and is where Ingwer Ludwig Nommensen looked towards Rura Silindung below. This research uses qualitative research methods, with data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation of several informants, namely the Tourism and Tourism Office and tourism business actors. Through the results of research conducted by the author, the development strategy for the Salib Kasih tourist attraction carried out by the Tourism Office is to improve facilities, add facilities, collaborate with other agencies and carry out promotions to increase the attractiveness of the Salib Kasih tourist attraction.  

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the establishment of the Menara Pandang tourist attraction and the increase in the number of tourist visits to the Salib Kasih tourist destination. The research method used is qualitative with a descriptive approach. Data collection techniques were carried out through observation, interviews, and documentation with several informants, namely the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of Salib Kasih and Menara Pandang, the Tourism Office of North Tapanuli, tourism workers, local business actors, and visiting tourists. The results of the study show that the establishment of Menara Pandang has a significant relationship with the increase in tourist visits to Salib Kasih. This relationship can be seen from the growth in the number of tourists coming after the development of the new facility, namely Menara Pandang. Supporting factors of this relationship include the proximity of the two tourist sites, the development of integrated tour packages, active promotion through social media, and support from the local government in providing facilities and infrastructure. With this integration, tourists who previously only visited Salib Kasih are now encouraged to also enjoy the attraction of Menara Pandang, thus extending their length of stay and giving a positive impact on the local economy. Furthermore, this study also found that the existence of Menara Pandang strengthens the image of Salib Kasih as a religious tourism destination as well as natural tourism with its unique features and attractions. Therefore, the development of additional strategic tourist attractions can be an effective step in increasing both attractiveness and the number of tourist visits, especially in religious and nature-based destinations. This research emphasizes the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in sustainable tourism development.

This study aims to describe the role of the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) in increasing tourist interest in the religious tourism destination of Salib Kasih, located in Siatas Barita Subdistrict, North Tapanuli Regency. The research used a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The findings show that the UPT of Salib Kasih is responsible for maintaining cleanliness, managing facilities, collecting local government revenue (PAD), and organizing religious and cultural activities. Despite facing challenges such as limited budget and competition from emerging tourist destinations, the UPT continues to innovate by creating new photo spots and collaborating with local communities and related departments. The study concludes that the active role of the UPT significantly contributes to the attractiveness and comfort of the destination, thus enhancing tourists' interest in visiting Salib Kasih.