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Fearless Women Travellers: Religion And More, Antonietta Ivona, Donatella Privitera

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The term ‘pilgrim’ is derived from the notion of pilgrimage. Historically a pilgrim was as a person who walked to a shrine or holy place out of religious motivation. Also, the experience of pilgrimage embodies the pilgrim’s desire to seek or manifest his or her identity and value as a person. Using gender as a lens, women in all cultures, sometimes even without the ability to read or write, have found ways to travel in spiritual ways of knowing. The testimonies of women travellers go back a long way in the centuries; there are many who have challenged the risks …

Religious Celebrations And Tradition: The Case Of ‘Panigiras’ In Sifnos Island, Polyxeni Moira, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos, Eleni Synagridi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religions presuppose a set of symbols that evoke feelings of respect or awe and are associated with various rituals (e.g. religious services) in which a community of believers is involved. Ritualistic religious acts include prayers, hymns, dances, use or abstinence from food, fasting, use of symbols, lighting a candle, offering food or flowers to a deity, etc. Religious worship rituals are performed individually by a person or collectively by groups of believers. The formal rituals are ceremonies which take place in sacred places such as churches, temples, mosques, pagodas (depending on religion). The informal rituals are festive events (e.g., fairs, …

Pilgrimage Routes As Opportunities For Local Development: Case Study Of The Way Of St James In The Alto Minho Region, Portugal, Mariana Oliveira, Goretti Silva

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The policies implemented by the Member States of the Council of Europe have as their main purpose to protect and realise the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitate economic and social development (Statute, 1949). The Council of Europe considers cultural itineraries, including pilgrimage routes, which make a significant contribution to the cultural tourism sector, and a key role in territorial development policies, in economic, social, and cultural terms.

The Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), one of the main pilgrimage routes in the world, was the first Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe …

Ways Of Saint James In The Interior North Of Portugal: An Analysis Of Touristic Routes, Pedro Ricardo Coelho De Azevedo

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Ways of Saint James are ancient routes of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela travelled from the 9th century and which in recent years have seen a profound revitalisation of tourism, based on the conversion of these routes into tourist-cultural routes, which in turn allows these routes to be valued and the existing heritage assets to be articulated. This study has as main goals to identify and analyse the transformation of the existing Ways of Saint James in the interior north of Portugal into tourist-cultural routes. At the same time, it is intended to demonstrate how these tourist routes allow …

Editorial: Pilgrimage-Induced Transformations: The 12th Annual International Religious Tourism & Pilgrimage Conference In Braga, Emese Panyik, Vincent Zammit

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

‘Unlikely Adventures’ In Sacred And Secular Space: India And The Sikh Diaspora, Dorothy Lane

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Sikh relationship with pilgrimage models is ambivalent and complicated; however, this relationship has been revived and reinvented because of several historical, cultural, and political transitions: the extensive Sikh diaspora; familiarity of pilgrimage in the Indian subcontinent; the effects of Partition and Sikh independence initiatives; and the secular and tourist components of pilgrimage. The shift from adherence to the wisdom of the Guru as the focus of the pious life to a physical journey involving geographical sites is a phenomenon that partly resulted from the partition of the Punjab in 1947; thus, the personal, social, and spiritual intersect intriguingly with …

Peregrinatio Interrupta: An Eclectic Success Of A Failed Pilgrimage, Noel Buttigieg, Dane Munro

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores the case study of two Quaker nuns, Ms Catherine Evans and Ms Sarah Cheevers. Their coincidental connection with the Mediterranean island of Malta caught the attention of several researchers, primarily interested in the micro history of the Quakers movement. Originally, Evans and Cheevers were entrusted to travel to Jerusalem, expecting to convert Christians at the epicentre of Christianity to Quakerism. After their ship called into the port of Malta en route to the Holy Land, their mission was interrupted due to their polarising and confrontational behaviour towards the Holy Office of the Roman Inquisition. Their intended short …

Exploring Memorable Sacred Tourism Experiences And Place Attachment, Carla Silva, José Luís Abrantes, Manuel Reis, Cláudia Seabra

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Ever since people have travelled to sacred places, religious and sacred sites have become some of the most visited destinations globally (Griftiths, 2011; Nyaupane et al., 2015), providing fascinating forms of travel (Griffin & Raj, 2017). However, despite the global importance and popularity of religious tourism and sacred places, few studies measure the tourists’ experiences in those destinations (Albayrak et al., 2018). Moreover, the standardisation of tourism products, including sacred ones, and the competitive market, requires that tourism destinations distinguish themselves by creating unique experiences. Currently, tourists seek appealing, unique, and memorable experiences that enhance their emotional link with tourism …

Ijrtp Volume 11(V) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Vincent Zammit, Emese Panyik

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Universal Accessibility On The Portuguese Coastal Way To Santiago In Porto Municipality, Fátima Matos De Silva, Isabel Borges, Marta Arreiol

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this article, the authors seek to understand if improvement to the conditions of universal accessibility on the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago was one of the factors that contributed to the development of this Way and consequently the increase of pilgrims.

To this end, an evolutionary analysis of the number of pilgrims was carried out, which involved a study of the universal accessibility of the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago and its religious heritage in the municipality of Porto. An analysis was also undertaken of the guiding and explanatory signage and the elements of innovation introduced, as well as …

Mapping Pilgrimage In The Marketplace: Social Contexts Of Bisnis Hajj Dan Umroh In Indonesia, Shin Yasuda

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

in which private commercial tour operators organise pilgrimages to Makkah (hajj and umrah). As a result, the development of these religious tour operators has formed a market, which is described as bisnis hajj dan umroh (pilgrimage business). Thus, this study examines social space and context in the commodification of Islam in Indonesia, by analysing the bisnis hajj dan umroh. In conclusion, the study shows that the development of the pilgrimage market in Indonesia has cultivated new social space among stakeholders, and creates social context based on individual piety, connecting economic development with personal spiritual commitment. The quality, popularity, and …

The Representation And Definition Of Shinto Within Travel Guidebooks, Pascal Von Beuningen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Japan is a country that is home to polytheistic religions, namely Buddhism and Shintoism. However, in comparison to Buddhism, which is spread widely, Shinto is mainly found in Japan. Thus, foreign visitors are most likely to encounter Shinto and Shinto shrines for the first time when they visit Japan. It can be argued that developing an understanding of the major religion(s) of a country can enhance cultural understanding. However, a clear definition of Shinto is an ongoing debate in Japan and among scholars across the world. Hence, this research tries to understand through Content Analysis of English and German language …

Events, Christian Faith Communities, And The Public Square, Ruth Dowson (Rev.), Daniel H. Olsen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Living as members of a faith community can be problematic in world regions where secularism controls the public sphere. The secularisation of European society, for example, has made it more difficult for religious groups to have a voice in public affairs. However, in many instances, religion has seen a revitalised role in the public square. Even in places where religion is believed to be best served as a muted witness in the private realm, Jews, Christians, and Muslims share a long tradition and heritage of political dissent, such as gathering on street corners to express their faith and their views. …

Strategic Intelligence For Sacred Sites, Pierre Fournie

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The polysemous aspect of pilgrimage constitutes a very old human activity, sometimes religious and alternatively secular, make it a complex matter to approach and handle. The exact number of pilgrims visiting sacred sites remains undetermined, and ranges, according to sources, between 200 and 400 million people yearly (Griffin & Raj, 2017). Pilgrimages are often associated with tourism and generate, in several countries, comfortable amounts of revenue. Public or private companies manage sacred sites and at the same time, areas of services for pilgrims and accompanying persons, and an intense network of shops, places for food and accommodation, grow, sometimes haphazardly. …

Representation Of Pre-Christian Baltic Religion In The Balts’ Road Tourism Route In Lithuania And Latvia, Michael Strmiska

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Balts’ Road tourism route in Latvia and Lithuania is an interesting example of how religious tourism may be packaged within a framework of cultural heritage tourism. The Balts’ Road offers travellers insight into the medieval Baltic world before the coming of Christianity. In this context, pre-Christian religious beliefs and practices constitute but one dimension of the historical tableau that the tourism route is intended to conjure. This article examines the manner in which the pre-Christian Baltic religion is represented on the Balts’ Road, displaying a certain ambivalence that seems related to the past religious history and current religious power …

Perspectives On Holy Springs As A Religious Tourism Resource: A Comparative Study Of The Baltic States And India, Janis Bikse, Mahender Reddy Gavinolla

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Holy springs played an immense role in religious tourism globally over centuries. It is widely believed that visiting holy springs as part of religious practice symbolises the washing away of sins and enhances ones’ health condition and well-being. Both in India and the Baltic States, a significant number of holy springs have various religious significances. However, over a period of time, due to changes in socio-cultural and political conditions, the use of springs for religious purposes and health reasons has also changed. The aim of this article is to analyse the change in the use of holy springs as religious …

Conceptualising Heritage Routes For Tourism: The Miracle Of The Roses, Isilda Leitão, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this article, a preliminary exploratory study is undertaken to cover a lesser researched topic in the tourism literature concerning the conceptualisation of heritage-based routes. A route of less-known heritage that crosses a territory with varied cultures is proposed. It is intended that the route contributes to the practice of creating itineraries for tourists. The route extends from Central Europe to the Iberian Peninsula and is related to historical and mythical legacies of Elisabeth of Hungary (1207-1231); Landgrave of Thuringia and; Isabel (Elisabeth), Princess of Aragon (1270?-1336) and Queen of Portugal. In this research, we opt for a qualitative approach, …

Finding Data Pathways Through The ‘Pandemic Pilgrimage Boom’: Embedded-Like Research, Covid-19, And The British Pilgrimage Trust, Eleanor O’Keeffe

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This article reviews claims that the United Kingdom experienced a ‘pandemic pilgrimage boom’. It contributes findings from an ‘embedded-like’ research project, which drew on data created by the British Pilgrimage Trust (BPT) – a heritage and wellbeing charity that hosts a website hub to support pilgrimage action in the UK – to debate about the impact of COVID-19 on pilgrimage practice. These findings show how a set of uses and meanings about pilgrimage, particularly its affordances for mental health and emotional wellbeing, have resonated during the pandemic, especially at moments of heightened social stress. This has generated greater social traction …

From Food To Religion: Two Case Studies In The South Of Italy, Antonietta Ivona, Donatella Privitera

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research aims to understand the connection between food and religious events and how they have become a focus of new tourist routes in the ‘year of the restart’, a time period marked by the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of religion and food seems to be successful in attracting tourists in the new scenarios created by the pandemic. The research aims to examine the potential for combining religious tourism with local food to enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of destinations, using two case studies from Saint Aghata in Catania and Saint Nicholas in Bari, Italy. The findings …

Managing Digital Media During The Lockdown: The Case Of Sanctuaries In Lazio, Italy, Marc-Marie Mutangala, Lorenzo Cantoni

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The period of the first COVID-19 total lockdown in Italy and in the world offered a very interesting context to evaluate the use of Mobile Information and Communication Technologies (MICTs) by Catholic shrines for their pastoral care. This research was carried out through a survey and interviews with leaders (rectors) of sanctuaries of Lazio, the region of Italy where Rome is placed. The sample chosen evaluates which initiatives the rectors of these sanctuaries have undertaken to keep in touch with the faithful and other constituencies during the first pandemic lockdown. As in the case of telework, which allowed working at …

Developing Pilgrimage Tourism In Latin America: Lessons Learned From The Camino De Santiago, María Carmen Pardo, Mónica Cecilia Cortés García, Goretti Silva

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Camino of Santiago has demonstrated its role as a strategic factor in the socio-economic development of territories. This paper presents a ‘tool kit’ based on Best Practice, aiming at designing, developing and operating pilgrimage routes in Latin America, inspired by the lessons learned from the Camino de Santiago strategies and policies. The methodology of the research for this paper is open-ended questionnaires to experts and institutions and online surveys to pilgrims. It also builds on a review of academic literature.

The findings show that Latin America is a traditionally religious territory, with a high percentage of the population belonging …

Potential Of The European Cultural Route Of Saints Cyril And Methodius For The Development Of Cultural Tourism, Peter Ivanič, Hilda Kramáreková, Alfred Krogmann, Henrich Grežo, Lucia Petrikovičová

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius was established in 2021 as a certified route within the program of Cultural Routes managed by the Council of Europe. The idea was to connect places with the Cyrillo-Methodian and Great Moravian traditions. The development of this cultural route is managed by the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius with a Permanent Secretariat in Zlín in the Czech Republic. The association currently has 23 members from 8 countries (CZ, SK, GR, SI, HU, BG, HR and IT). The Cultural Routes Program of the Council of Europe, which has been in …

Pilgrimage And Paradigm Shifts: The Role Of Experience In Identity Transformations, Stephen F. Haller

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Some kinds of knowledge can only be acquired by direct experience. Engaging in a pilgrimage can transform a person by allowing them to inhabit different worldviews, or paradigms, that would otherwise remain inaccessible to them. The pilgrim then learns to see the world in a new and different way; has ideas not imagined before the experience, and; may even change their life in ways unforeseen before the pilgrimage. It is uncertain just how, and in what unexpected ways, one might change. Most often these changes are welcomed; however, it is unclear whether one’s prepilgrim- self, before the change, would approve …

Editorial: The 13th Annual International Religious Tourism & Pilgrimage Conference In Vilnius, Darius Liutikas

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Ijrtp Volume 11(Iv) Table Of Contents, Darius Liutikas, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Examining The Pilgrims’ Experience: Communitas Along The Camino De Santiago, Snežana Brumec

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

To what extent does the community formed among pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago correspond to Turner’s concept of communitas? How might pilgrimage with significant others differ from individual pilgrimages in the sense of community? This study attempts to answer these questions based on qualitative and quantitative content analysis of 32 travelogues written by pilgrims who completed the pilgrimage alone or with relatives or friends. The findings show that pilgrims develop an egalitarian and creative community that prevails the notion of a generic bond between people, an intense comradeship and generous common friendliness. In such a community, pilgrims’ behaviour is …

The Family Pilgrimage To Santiago, Adeline Rucquoi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The presence of women on the roads to Santiago since the beginning of the pilgrimage is becoming better known. The texts show that family pilgrimages, of children with their parents, of sons with their fathers or of daughters with their mothers, are not just a contemporary phenomenon.

Family Pilgrimage Along The Camino De Santiago In Poland: Forms, Conditions And Prospects For Development, Franciszek Mróz, Sławomir Tykarski, Marcin Gazda

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study presents an analysis of the forms of family pilgrimage along the Polish sections of the Way of St. James. The purpose of the research is to understand the current status of family pilgrimage along the route to Santiago de Compostela in Poland, as well as to specify the determinants of the development of this type of pilgrimage. The forms of family pilgrimage along the Way of St. James in Poland and the importance of such pilgrimages in deepening intra-family relations are presented based on interviews and testimonies collected, as well as on several years of experience in organising …

A Semester On The Road To Santiago: The Long-Term Impacts Of Walking The Camino De Santiago With A Family-Like Study Abroad Group, Douglas Challenger

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this paper, research findings are presented from a small, longitudinal study using qualitative data on the long-term impacts of a unique, semester-long, study abroad program at Franklin Pierce University. In this programme, students study the history and contemporary renaissance of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and then walk the entire route in northern Spain as pilgrims. Alumni who participated in one of four trips conducted in the fall of 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 were asked in 2022 to respond to five open-ended questions about how their semester abroad impacted their lives, to what degree they thought their study-abroad …

Family Pilgrimage On The Camino De Santiago In Spain: Typology And Impact, Piotr Roszak, Jesus Tanco

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This article presents an analysis of contemporary forms of family pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and prospect for its development after the pandemic of 2021-2022. Based on information about family pilgrimages in Spain, we examine its therapeutic benefits, its challenges and difficulties, and its place within competing forms of pilgrimage. The ‘family modality’ extends to pilgrimage within any intentional family, such as one’s academic and professional companions, recovering addicts traveling for mutual support, like-minded religious confraternities sharing a communal experience of the journey, and pilgrims trekking on behalf of family members left behind as a manifestation of voluntary surrogate pilgrimage.