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C2) Generation Z Tour Guiding Performance With Tourists From The Three Abrahamic Religions, Vitor Ambrósio, Carlos Santos

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Major changes are occurring in tourism and enterprises should try to be proactive. Through higher education, students are exposed to the latest knowledge that should also benefit the entrepreneurs of the tourism sector. Yet the connection between institutions of knowledge and the tourism trade is critically lacking. All parties involved are aware of this, however, there are no clear guidelines on how to build more solid bridges between different actors. Many evidence and studies suggest that Muslim tourists have become an important global market (Oktadiana, 2021), also Jewish tourists are quite important for the tourism industry (Lybra Tech SRL, 2025). …

C4) Rewriting Pilgrimage Narrative For A Young Audience In Love From Mecca To Medina, Dorothy Lane

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In my latest scholarship, I focus on fictional texts that incorporate and yet challenge the conventional pilgrimage narrative, and the nexus of spiritual, personal, and professional elements involved in travel to sites of sacred significance, often tracing traditional pilgrimage routes. In this paper, I will revisit that diasporic element in SK Ali's young adult novel Love from Makkah to Madinah (2022), which again transgresses definitions of genre, incorporating a pilgrimage narrative, a romance of two young adult Westernized Muslims, and a focus on grounded (sand) and simultaneously transcendent (stars) travel through sacred space and text.

My study integrates dialogue with …

D1) Sacred Tattoos And Pilgrimage Tourism As Spiritual Identity, Rossana Salerno

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Pilgrimage tourism and sacred tattoos represent unique intersections of cultural heritage, spirituality, and personal identity. Pilgrimage tourism involves journeys to sacred sites, often for religious or spiritual reasons, and has evolved into a global industry. Sacred tattoos, deeply embedded in various cultural and religious practices, symbolize a connection to the divine or mark significant life events.

This study explores the evolving role of sacred tattoos in the context of pilgrimage tourism, where travelers seek not only physical journeys to sacred destinations but also spiritual transformations through body art. Sacred tattoos often serve as markers of identity, protection, or devotion, integrating …

D2) Montserrat: A Millennium Of Faith, Pilgrimage, And Cultural Heritage, Silvia Aulet, Dolors Vidal-Casellas

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In 2025, Montserrat (in Catalonia) is celebrating the millennium of the foundation of the monastery, an event that will mark a thousand years of history, faith and culture in this emblematic sanctuary. This anniversary represents an extraordinary opportunity to promote religious and spiritual tourism, reinforcing Montserrat as a destination for pilgrimage.

Montserrat is a point of reference for millions of visitors annually, both for its religious importance and for its natural and historical heritage. The combination of faith, culture and nature makes this a unique destination for pilgrims, hikers and tourists from all over the world. The millenary is an …

C3) From Ritual To Heritage: Mountain Pilgrimages And The Transmission Of Practices In Corsica, Angelina Antonetti

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In Corsica, mountain pilgrimages serve as a key vector for the transmission of the sacred and a marker of collective identity. Rooted in popular religiosity, these practices intertwine ritual performance, oral tradition, and spatiality, shaping a unique relationship between faith and territory. The study of these pilgrimages offers a means to examine the processes of sacralization of mountain spaces and their role in the transmission of religious practices, as well as the question of their heritage status.

This study focuses on three mountain pilgrimages in Corsica: Sant'Alesiu di Sermanu, Sant'Alesiu d'Alisgiani, and San Bertuli d’Orezza. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, it …

A2) Motivations For Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage: Spirituality Or Modern Tourism, Razaq Raj, Kevin Griffin

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Religious tourism and pilgrimage represent vital dimensions of global travel, deeply embedded in cultural, spiritual, and economic frameworks. This paper examines the definitions, motivations, and statistical insights surrounding these faith-based journeys, highlighting their enduring significance. Religious tourism encompasses visits to sacred sites, participation in religious events, and engagement in spiritual retreats, while pilgrimage specifically refers to journeys undertaken to fulfill religious obligations or seek divine enlightenment.

The motivations driving religious tourism and pilgrimage are multifaceted. They range from spiritual fulfillment and cultural exploration to communal participation and personal transformation. Key pilgrimage sites such as Mecca, Vatican City, and Varanasi draw …

B1) Integrating Spirituality And Culture In Visitor Experience: The Case Of The Cathedral Of Barcelona, Silvia Aulet, Anna Vilanova

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Sacred sites such as the Barcelona Cathedral have a significant symbolic role and act as guardians of tradition, being an example of the convergence between tangible and intangible heritage. Tourism management must take this duality into account to offer an enriching experience to visitors. The Cathedral of Barcelona, with more than 1,700 years of history, is a sacred space that has stood testimony to the deep connection between human beings and religious faith. This temple is not only a cultural centre, but also a cultural and tourist reference that attracts an important part of the visitors who arrive in the …

A1) Preserving The Sacred: Combating Vandalism In Religious Monuments, Polyxeni Moira, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Acts of vandalism against monuments have been recorded since antiquity. According to the German historian Gregorovius, the habit of travelers carving their names onto monuments is as ancient as human vanity itself. In the Egyptian Thebes, Greek and Roman travelers covered the Colossus of Memnon with inscriptions. Vandalism as an act began to be scientifically studied during the 1970s and 1980s by researchers from various disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, criminology, law, architecture, and others. The documentation of acts of vandalism in tourism has been noted by researchers, although the phenomenon has not received significant attention in academic study. The …

B4) Transforming The Sacred Space Into A Historical Place: The Case Of Paco Cemetery In Manila, Philippines, Jerome Ong

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Paco Park, a peaceful modern-day recreational garden, is situated in the heart of Manila, Philippines. It was originally used as a municipal cemetery, primarily for the wealthy Spanish families during the colonial era. Then known as Cementerio Genreral de Dilao o simply Paco Cemetery, it was initially built by the Dominican friars in 1807 that became the burial ground for cholera-stricken victims during the 1820s. During the Spanish regime, a number of renowned Filipino heroes and personalities were interred at the Paco Cemetery at the onset, including the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal and the three martyred priests …

B3) Tourism Asset Management In Religious Cities: A Study Of Religious Resources In Japanese Sacred Sites, Shin Yasuda

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The flourishing of the religious tourism industry worldwide has created opportunities for the development of various religious products and services at sacred sites. Indeed, the expansion of commercial spaces on the periphery of holy sites demonstrates that contemporary sacred sites can be analysed in terms of not only their religious significance and the religious motivations of visitors but also their economic dimensions, including commercial activities and property management in such places.

In previous studies, Shackley (2001) and others have emphasised the concept of management at sacred sites, highlighting the importance of analysing commercial spaces surrounding these sites, as well as …

A3) Faith, Culture, And Transformation: A Case Study Of Visitors To The Tumane Monastery, Marija Bratic, Danijel Pavlovic

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This study examines the experiences of visitors to the Tumane Monastery, one of the most significant Serbian religious and pilgrimage sites. Located in a peaceful natural setting, the Tumane Monastery is known for its spiritual importance, rich history, and connection to miraculous events, making it a key religious and cultural destination in the Branievo District of Eastern Serbia. The unique combination of the monastery's religious heritage and natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual and cultural enrichment.

Using a survey methodology, this research analyses the demographic characteristics, motives, behaviours, and perceptions of visitors (believers, pilgrims, and tourists), as well …

A4) Religious Tourism And Religiosity Among Generation Z From A Postsecular Context, Elzbieta Bilska-Wodecka, Justyna Liro

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Due to historical conditions and the social-cultural changes in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries among other factors, and despite secular processes, remarkably, religious and spiritual motives still continue to be common among travellers around the world. Therefore, the popularity of religious and spiritual travel cannot be simply explained by the growth in the religiosity of societies. It should be emphasized that this is postmodern phenomenon, reflecting one of the indirect aspects of post secularization, especially in European societies, and a way for individuals to affirm their faith. In contemporary societies, religiosity of Europe is experiencing profound transformations, especially among young …

B2) Local Governance And Community Regeneration: A Case Study In The North Of Portugal, Carlos Fernandes, Isilda Leitão

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Our Lady of Peace is one of the several titles attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. The main theme of Our Lady’s messages is the call to peace and reconciliation obtained only through prayer. Our Lady of Peace churches and shrines may be found throughout the world. One is a Marian shrine and pilgrimage site in a remote mountain village in Ponte da Barca, in the North of Portugal This paper aims to disseminate the story of a small religious shrine and examines the local governance and development initiatives being taken to stimulate visitation.

The …

Agricultural Extension In An Urban Informal Settlement During Covid-19: The Effectiveness Of The “Tanimang Bayan” Initiative In Sitio San Roque, North Triangle, Quezon City, Patrice Bianca R. Yapjoco

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep inequalities in food access, particularly in urban informal settlements. This study examines the effectiveness of the “Tanimang Bayan” initiative, an urban agriculture project implemented in Sitio San Roque, Quezon City, as a form of agricultural extension during the pandemic. The research adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on data from key informant interviews, participant observation, and secondary sources. Findings indicate that the initiative provided a localized response to food insecurity by enhancing access to fresh produce and promoting community-led production. It also supported collective action and self-organization among residents, strengthening their autonomy in navigating structural limitations. …

U.S. Young Adults’ Family-Building Intentions In The Event Of Infertility And Knowledge Of Associated Costs, Jean Marie Place, John Horowitz, Minh Nguyen, Maya Guinn, Brennan Peterson

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Infertility affects approximately 8.5% of married women in the United States, yet there is limited understanding of how young adults anticipate and prepare for potential barriers to biological parenthood. As reproductive planning increasingly intersects with social, medical, and financial considerations, it is important to examine how emerging adults perceive and approach family-building options. This study aims to explore college students' intentions regarding childbearing, their openness to non-traditional family-building methods, and their awareness of the associated financial costs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to undergraduate students (mean age = 20) at a Midwestern public university. Most participants had not …

Keynote 1: Sacred Landscapes And Pilgrimages: The Spatial Manifestation Of Religious Beliefs, Darius Liutikas

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This presentation explores the intricate relationship between religious practices and sacred landscapes, emphasizing how beliefs, rituals, and pilgrimage shape and transform these spaces. It examines the spatial expressions of faith and their impact on cultural landscapes, revealing the dynamic interplay between religion and the physical environment. Sacred spaces, including houses for worship and pilgrimage sites, serve as focal points for worship, contemplation, and communal rituals, linking the spiritual and material worlds.

The study highlights the existential cycle of sacred spaces, comprising five stages: creation, affirmation, preservation, reuse, and destruction. These phases demonstrate the evolving nature of sacred landscapes, reflecting shifts …

Exploration Of Adventure-Based Counseling And Its Impact On The Self-Concept Of At-Risk Youth, Kendall Kern, Mary Bess Pannel, Todd Davis, Thales Barbosa

Journal of Academic Underperformance

Background: Integrating experiential therapy techniques with physical activity and nature improves aspects of self-concept: social connectedness, resilience, and healthy coping skills in the short-term for at-risk, underperforming youth (Kraft & Cornelius-White, 2020). Kraft and Cornelius-White (2020) found that wilderness therapy counselors that taught communication skills and prioritized “group cohesion in group therapy” led to positive “changes to self-concept” (p. 350-351). Purpose: The researchers hypothesize that community-based adventure therapy will have a positive impact on the self-concept in at-risk, rural youth. Methodology/Approach: The researchers utilized a quasi-experimental model to assess the impact of adventure therapy on rural at-risk youth (N~6) after …

The Body In Extremist White Supremacism, Mehr Latif, Kathleen Blee, Matthew Demichele, Pete Simi

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

This article advances the study of racial extremism by analyzing how its practices of violence and sexuality are marked on the bodies of participants in the form of scars, physical stances, abuse, tattoos, pregnancy, injury, strength and size, using an extraordinarily rich and extensive set of narratives collected from lengthy in-person interviews with 47 former members of U.S. extremist white supremacist groups. It asks how embodied practices of violence and sexuality enable extremist white supremacist groups and actors, how embodied practices of violence and sexuality disable these groups and actors, and how gender matters in embodied practices in these groups. …

Law Enforcement Officers’ Perceptions About Antipolice Sentiment And Social Media As A Force Multiplier, Edward Peter Pope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a newly emergent form of mass communication, social media platforms can act as a force multiplier in fomenting negative and critical attitudes or viewpoints toward law enforcement officers and agencies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions and lived experiences of law enforcement officers about antipolice sentiment and social media as a force multiplier. Amid growing concerns regarding public opinion and the impact of social media on law enforcement practices, more research was needed on how officers navigate and interpret these challenges. Data from in-depth interviews with 10 law enforcement officers were thematically analyzed to …

Probation Officers’ Perspectives Of Outside Services In Reducing Recidivism, Karla Murguia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has underscored the critical role of probation officers in improving rates of recidivism. However, the literature on the comprehensive impact of outside services on recidivism was sparse and underdeveloped. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how probation officers in court services and a community corrections agency in Garden City, Kansas perceived the utility of outside services in reducing adult recidivism for probationers. Ecological systems theory was used to guide the study. Eight probation officers recruited via purposive sampling participated in semistructured interviews. Transcribed data were analyzed using a six-step thematic analysis protocol. Findings revealed that probationers …

Sustainable Tourism Behaviour Through Walking Tour: A Qualitative Study To Walking Tour Participants In Jakarta, Melisa Bunga Altamira, Khairunnisa Devani Aqtus Permana Putri

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

As urban tourism continues to rise, walking tours have emerged as a low-impact, environmentally friendly, and culturally immersive form of tourism. This study explores the relationship between walking tours and the development of sustainable tourism behaviour among participants in Jakarta, Indonesia. Using a qualitative research approach, this study elaborates the motivations, perceptions, and behavioural changes of individuals who have participated in walking tours across Jakarta’s historical and cultural sites. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and participant observations, focusing on themes such as environmental awareness, appreciation of local culture, and reduced dependency on motorized transport. The findings suggest that walking …

Customer Lifetime Value: Dimensionalities And Conceptual Connections, Sharmistha Bhattacharyya, Mrinmoy Kumar Sarma

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) has a strong relationship to customer satisfaction and firm profitability . This review indicates that once such a relationship is developed and cemented, multiple benefits accrue to the brand and the firm. The review lays the groundwork for further studies of CLV, especially in the emerging economies.

Global Trends In Youth Employment: Key Statistics And Cultural Commentary, Anatolii Mazaraki, Tetiana Melnyk, Oksana Losheniuk

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The issue of youth employment receives constant attention of global organizations, governments, and researchers. Young people have the potential to positively reshape the national and global economies. Furthermore, the youth also constantly reshape the social, cultural, technological, and political environments. Global unemployment rate among youth, however, is three times higher than among older workers. In 2023, one in five young people did not work, study, or acquire professional skills. The negative factors of the Ukrainian youth labor market have been significantly exacerbated by the war, which has caused an economic crisis in the country, a huge migration of young people, …

Institutions: Facilitators Or Detractors Of Development?, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Deniz Atik, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin, Delphine Godefroit-Winkel

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Under Siege Worldwide: Moving Beyond Limiting Notions Of Gender And Sexuality In Education Organizations And Leadership, Margaret Grogan

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

As 2025 gets underway in the United States, educators across this country, like in many others, are bracing for unprecedented opposition to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies. Newly elected President Trump is rapidly dismantling many federal agencies, cutting off aid to foreign entities, and causing major apprehension across the globe. His stated agenda to eradicate progressivism echoes many other international ultraconservative and far-right movements, who applaud his authoritarian regime. To mount the best possible resistance to these disturbing developments, and, indeed, to expand and strengthen DEI work, this chapter argues for collective action across all the …

Accounting For Stillbirths In Maternal Health Metrics: A Cross-Country Analysis Research In Context, Ursula Gazeley, Hallie Eilerts-Spinelli, Joshua Wilde, Hannah Blencowe, Li Liu, Wendy Graham, Veronique Filippi

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Background: Live birth is only one of four potential pregnancy outcomes, alongside stillbirth, miscarriage, and induced abortion. While morbidity and mortality associated with all pregnancy outcomes are included in the numerator of many maternal metrics, often only live births are included in the denominator. This inconsistency makes interpreting trends challenging and may exacerbate the deprioritisation of monitoring other pregnancy outcomes. We assess the effect of using (1) total births (live births and stillbirths) or (2) total pregnancies (total births plus miscarriages/induced abortions) as the denominator on estimates of maternal and pregnancy-related mortality ratios (MMR and PRMR). Methods: Using data from …

Letter To Congress From Harvey A. Friedman Center For Aging, June 24, 2025, Ernest Gonzales, Cal J. Halvorsen, Nancy Morrow-Howell

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Letter to Members of Congress: We are gerontological social work researchers with expertise in productive aging; that is, activities that produce goods or services for society, whether paid for or not. We mainly focus on risk and protective factors to employment, caregiving, and volunteering in later life, and the many health, economic, and social outcomes.

Attached are peer reviewed scientific journal articles and policy briefs that underscore the importance of social policies that enable older adults to contribute to society through productive aging. In simple terms, increasing opportunities for older adults to remain productively engaged through work, volunteering, and caregiving …

Elder Fraud In The Mountain West, 2023, Taylor Volk, Madison Dwyer, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents data on complaints of fraud affecting individuals over the age of 60 and associated financial losses reported by elderly individuals in the Mountain West. The 2023 Elder Fraud Report serves to illuminate trends in elder fraud reports throughout the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. This fact sheet focuses on elder fraud data for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Gender Differences In Regretted Consensual Sexual Experiences And Problematic Alcohol Use Among First-Year College Students, Shannon Shen, Soyoung Kwon, Sukho Lee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Regretted sexual behaviors and alcohol use often occur in tandem for college students; however, few studies have examined their interrelationships or the variance across gender. This study tested gender differences in how regretting a consensual sexual experience is related to college students’ alcohol use. One hundred and forty first-year students (63% women, 69% Hispanic) surveyed in 2018 and 2019 reported their sexual behavior and alcohol use (following the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index [RAPI]). Twenty-one percent of men and 16% of women reported a regretted sexual encounter. Interaction effects from regression models revealed that men with sexual regret had a significantly …

The Labor Supply Curve Is Upward Sloping: The Effects Of Immigrant-Induced Demand Shocks, Sigurd Galaasen, Andreas Kostøl, Joan Monras, Jonathan Vogel

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

What is the effect of immigration on native labor-market outcomes? An extensive literature identifies the differential impact of immigration on natives employed in jobs that are more exposed to immigrant labor (supply exposure). But immigrants consume in addition to producing output. Despite this, no literature identifies the impact on natives employed in jobs that are more exposed to immigrant consumption (demand exposure). We study native labor market effects of supply and demand exposures to immigration. Theoretically, we formalize both measures of exposure and solve for their effects on native wages. Empirically, we combine employer-employee data with a newly collected data …