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Spiritual Experience At The Arbaeen Pilgrimage: The Case Of Iranian Pilgrims, Ali Movahed, Mehdi Moazzeni, Behnam Kian

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages and other trips with spiritual motivation are one of the first forms of tourism, and today pilgrimage tourism in all its forms has become an important part of the global tourism market. The Arbaeen pilgrimage on foot is a memorable journey on the way to Karbala in Iraq, and most pilgrims, especially Iranians, choose to walk to Karbala from the city of Najaf for this purpose. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Iranian pilgrims who participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage on foot and to explore what the pilgrims themselves say about their experiences, as …

Impact Of Globalisation On Religious Tourism: The Case Of Vrindavan, India, Charlie Gupta, Ridhu Dhan Gahalot

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The term ‘religious tourism’ refers to travel that is primarily inspired by spiritual beliefs (Smith, 2012). It serves as one of humanity’s oldest religious practices as well as one of the earliest examples of tourism (Timothy, 2011). Due in the main to the numerous sacred places that are dispersed throughout its vast geographic area, India, which is known for its rich heritage and culture, has attracted attention from throughout the world (Eck, 2011; Singh, 2013). As a result, it has become a well-known location for religious tourism. During the past ten years, this specific type of tourism has seen a …

Religious Tourism In An Atheistic Society: The Example Of The Czech Republic, Ivo Jirásek, Tereza Štěrbová

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

For a more accurate understanding of religious tourism, it is useful to distinguish between faith-based tourism, spiritual tourism and tourism in religious spaces. The former is characterized by religious faith (and processes of hierophany), the next by spirituality and transcendence experience, while the latter remains in the secular realm of experience. Based on this conceptual grasp, the paper presents the situation in the highly secular Czech Republic and investigates the opinions of service and offer providers in this type of tourism through interviews (n = 3). A comparison with the demand and preferences of tourism participants was collected through an …

Tools To Persevere Towards A Challenging Goal: Lessons Learned About Grit Along The Way Of St. James, Ana Rita Nunes, Tânia Moreira, Armanda Pereira, Cleia Zanatta, Luísa Mota Ribeiro, Pedro Rosário

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Understanding the factors contributing to increased perseverance and passion toward long-term goals is an ongoing research challenge. The present study explores the inner drive of individuals to achieve meaningful goals over time, despite setbacks and challenges. The scenario chosen to uncover grit processes was the Way of St. James, a long pilgrimage demanding participants’ perseverance and passion for achieving their goals, despite hardship. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-one individuals completing the Way of St. James. Thematic analysis indicated three key themes contributing to improve the participants’ perseverance along the walk: behavioural tools (e.g., setting behavioural and time management goals), …

Exploring Pilgrims’ Perceptions Of Islamic Tour Operators In The United Kingdom: Insights For Improved Services, Shabir Ahmad, Kamran Siddiqui

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In recent years, religious tourism has gained popularity worldwide, with millions of people travelling to different destinations for religious purposes. The United Kingdom has a growing Muslim population, and Islamic religious tourism is no exception. However, little research has been conducted on the pilgrim’s perceptions of Islamic religious tour operators in the United Kingdom. Understanding these perceptions is essential for tour operators to provide better services and attract more customers. The present study aims to contribute to Islamic tourism research by assessing the perceptions of pilgrims toward religious tour operators in the United Kingdom. Employing a snowball sampling technique, this …

Religious Tourism Attractions At Debre Aron Rock-Hewn Church, Meket District, Northern Ethiopia, Tsegaye Ebabey Demissie

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Ethiopia, which has a diverse sacred cultural heritage, has enormous fortunes as far as religious tourism is concerned. Its ancient Christianity has left numerous religious and historical legacies, ranging from architecturally sophisticated sacred monuments to living religious practices. However, the development of these legacies for religious tourism is hindered mainly due to a lack of research and consideration by tourism developers. This study aims to investigate the potential tourism value of Debre Aron Monastery, which is one of the most overlooked religious sites in northern Ethiopia. To this end, the study’s data, which are analysed qualitatively, were collected through literature …

Santuario (Shrines): The Sustainable Religious Tourism Management Of Selected Philippine Congregation-Managed Marian Shrines, Janine Patricia P. Chuajap, Rizyl May C. Diamante, Angela Gabrielle S. Donguez, Francesca D. Metrillo, Chrisalyn O. Miralles, Renz Vincent C. Quicio, Roland D. Mactal, Jame Monren T. Mercado

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study assesses how sustainable tourism management is implemented in selected Philippine Marian Shrines, managed by religious congregations. In conducting the study, the researchers used a qualitative case study approach, as the data were collected using Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The study’s key informants (n=27) are the stakeholders of the two selected study sites. These include the congregation, staff members, tourism-related business owners, Barangay government representatives, local police officers, and local tourism representatives. The Repertory Grid methodology was utilised to analyse the data gathered. From the findings, the researchers developed the I.T.S.P. (Immersion, Tutelage, Stewardship, and Proposition): Sustainable Religious Tourism …

Exploring The Conceptual Structure And Perspectives Of Religious-Spiritual And Wellness Tourism Research From The Destination Community: A Bibliometric Review, Priyanka Babu N, Sherry Abraham

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The conceptualisation of specific holistic tourism components (religious-spiritual-wellness tourism) and their influence on community well-being in contemporary literature appears complex and needs to be more specific. This research traces critical developments in religious-spiritual-wellness tourism and their relationship with community by reviewing published literature in the Scopus database from 1990 to 2020 using bibliometric analysis. The literature review includes three sub-areas: descriptive analysis, reference publication year spectroscopy, and network analysis. In demonstrating the trends and evolution, the study focuses on the social, conceptual, and intellectual structures in religious-spiritual-wellness tourism (RSWT) and community. The key findings indicate that the RSWT community is …

Religious Tourism At Tana Chirkos & St. Kirstos Semra: Contemporary Issues And Prospects For Sustainable Tourism, Dagnachew Nega

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism is not a new phenomenon or new practice. It has recently received considerable attention in both academia and the public at large. However, even though Ethiopia is endowed with a variety of religious tourism activities, its contemporary issues, and future prospects haven’t been utilised, outlined and managed. In the Amhara region, in the South Gondar zone, Tana Chirkos and Kirstos Semra are among the outstanding sites where lots of religious travellers are going and religious tourism activities are held. Thus, this study stands with the general objective of investigating the issues and future prospects of religious tourism development …

Exploring The Potential Of Halal Tourism In A Non-Muslim Destination: The Case Of Portugal, João Domingues, Sofia Almeida

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Halal Tourism has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and auspicious market segments within the tourism industry. The main goal of this study is to ascertain whether Portugal has the necessary capabilities to develop a sustainable and competitive halal tourism market and if it can attract Muslim travellers. This research applied a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews with representatives of businesses companies and institutions from various subsectors of the tourism industry. Moreover, a netnographic technique was applied to gather secondary information. The results reveal that despite Portugal having full potential and all the conditions to develop halal …

Review Of: Hungarian Catholic Intellectuals In Contemporary Romania: Reforming Apostles By Marc Roscoe Loustau, Kamila Baraniecka-Olszewska

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Book Review of: Hungarian Catholic Intellectuals in Contemporary Romania: Reforming Apostles by Marc Roscoe Loustau

Review Of: Pilgrimage In The Christian Balkan World: The Path To Touch The Sacred And Holy, Edited By Dorina Dragnea, Emmanouil Ger. Varvounis, Evelyn Reuter, Petko Hristov And Susan Sorek, Igor Stamenkovic

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Book Review of: Pilgrimage in the Christian Balkan World: The Path to Touch the Sacred and Holy, edited by Dorina Dragnea, Emmanouil Ger. Varvounis, Evelyn Reuter, Petko Hristov and Susan Sorek

Integration Of Islamic Religious Values And Javanese Culture In The Development Of Pilgrimage Tourism In Ngawonggo, Indonesia, Mahatva Yoga Adi Pradana, Darsono Wisadirana, Muhammad Lukman Hakim, Ahmad Imron Rozuli

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Spiritual tourism prioritising religious aspects, is one of East Java’s oldest forms of tourism, especially in Malang district. This form of tourism has long developed since combining Islamic and Javanese values. The concept emerged along with the Indonesian halal tourism brand. As a form of contribution to the development of religious tourism, this study seeks to show the existence of traditional relations in aspects of Islamic pilgrimage as a form of tourist behaviour which involves visiting historical tourism in tourist villages. This research uses a qualitative methods with a case study which includes interviews and participatory observation that aims to …

Exploring The Intention Of Religious Tourists To Use Travel Apps: The Moderating Role Of Digital Privacy, Saumya Chandel, Neerja Rai, Srishti Chaubey, Kushendra Mishra

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Travel applications (apps) are essential tools for contemporary travel activities in the digital age. These are being used more frequently by religious tourists to access information and carry out travel and tourism-related tasks. So, it is essential for businesses associated with the travel sector to understand the intention of religious tourists towards using mobile travel applications. However, there are only a few empirical studies focusing on the factors that may influence tourists to use mobile travel apps. A research framework based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) has been proposed in this study to examine how and to what extent …

Forecasting Foreign Tourist Arrivals In India: A Strategic Analysis For Sustainable Religious Tourism Growth, Vishwajeet Singh, Dr. Taruna, Tarushree Bari, Subhash Kumar Yadav

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The exponential growth of the tourism industry in India significantly impacts the nation’s economic landscape. This study presents an analysis of tourism arrival trends from 2000 to 2019 to forecast foreign tourist arrivals, aligning with the broader scope of religious tourism and pilgrimage. Employing the Box-Jenkins methodology, the research aims to project short-term forecasts for inbound tourism. Diverse modelling techniques are explored to capture the nuances of the time series data, including the assessment of stationarity using the Dickey-Fuller Test to discern underlying trends. The study culminates in identifying the A.R.I.M.A (0, 1, 1) model with drift as the most …

Evolving Trends In Sustainable Religious Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis, Anita Kumari, Pooja Thakur

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

As the world strives to overcome the pressing challenges of sustainable development, the tourism industry, with its substantial environmental and social impacts, calls for renewed attention. Within this domain, religious tourism has emerged as a distinctive and integral component of the sustainable tourism discourse. This study employs bibliometric analysis to examine the growth, key themes, and emerging trends in research on sustainable and religious tourism from the year 2011 to 2022, using the open-access Dimensions database. The findings indicate a continuous and steady growth in the body of literature pertaining to sustainability in religious tourism. The key themes and potential …

Precursors Of Employee Engagement In Travel Agencies To Enrich The Religious Tourist Experience, Shiwani Singh, Dr. Taruna, Jyoti Singh Bharti

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Employee engagement among travel agency employees is integral to the successful promotion of religious tourism. Religious tourism is a niche sector that demands a deep understanding of diverse faiths, cultures, and traditions, as well as a high degree of sensitivity to cater for the spiritual and emotional needs of travellers. Engaged employees possess a profound knowledge of religious destinations, historical context, and cultural nuances, allowing them to offer insightful guidance and recommendations to travellers. Moreover, engaged employees are more inclined to deliver exceptional customer service, by attentively addressing the specific requirements and preferences of religious travellers in ways that resonate …

An Empirical Investigation Of Religious Tourism As A Multiplier For Development, Nivi Srivastava, Namita Nigam, Pankaj Kumar Tripathi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Tourism, as a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing social, cultural, and economic dimensions has emerged as a driving force behind global socioeconomic development. Within this framework, religious tourism stands out as both a historically significant and contemporary form of travel with profound implications for host communities. Religious tourism refers to trips which individuals or organisations take for spiritual or religious purposes. It is no coincidence that many of the world’s most visited attractions are associated with ancient temples or the sites of miracles. These trips hold religious significance because of the rites associated with it. Pilgrimages and visits to holy sites are …

Review Of: Neo-Traditionalism In Islam In The West Orthodoxy, Spirituality And Politics, By Walaa Quisay, Sri Dewi Priwarti Siregar

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: Neo-Traditionalism In Islam In The West Orthodoxy, Spirituality and Politics, by Walaa Quisay

Review Of: Pilgrimage As Spiritual Practice: A Handbook For Teachers, Wayfarers, And Guides, Edited By Jeffrey Bloechl And André Brouillette, Wayne E. Arnold Ph.D.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Wayfarers, and Guides, edited by Jeffrey Bloechl and André Brouillette

Revitalising Indian Tourism: Navigating Fear And Procrastination In The Post Covid-19 Era, Sachitaa Srivastava, Lata Bajpai Singh, Syed Asif Mehdi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The tourism industry across the world in general and the Indian tourism industry in particular are now reviving in a post-COVID-19 scenario and making the most of an unexpected opportunity to refocus their economies on the likes of religious and medical tourism. The major purpose of this study is to examine how concerns about COVID-19 have affected people working in the tourism industry, specifically in terms of how much time they spend on their work and how often they put things off. In the present study, a standardised questionnaire was used to collect information from residents of three Indian cities: …

Ijrtp Volume 12(Iii) Table Of Contents, Dr. Taruna, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Special Issue: Papers Presented at International Conference on Religious Tourism (ICRT-2023), held at the Department of Management Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow, (U.P), India, 27-28 March 2023

Review Of: Museums As Ritual Sites: Civilizing Rituals Reconsidered, Edited By Lieke Wijnia And James S. Bielo, Maaike De Jong

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: Museums as Ritual Sites: Civilizing Rituals Reconsidered, edited by Lieke Wijnia and James S. Bielo

Perception Of Confidentiality In Fintech Usage Among Religious Tourism Entrepreneurs Of Puri, Durga Prasad Singh Samanta, B.C.M. Patnaik, Ipseeta Satpathy

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The adoption of fintech and digital payments by religious tourism entrepreneurs in India offers various benefits, including improved customer experience, convenience, and increased financial inclusion. By offering digital payment options, entrepreneurs can streamline the payment process, automate tasks, and focus on other aspects of their business. To gather data, a survey was conducted with a sample size of 129 entrepreneurs over a 4-month period. Results showed awareness, attitudes, and usage of fintech solutions. To address challenges, education, training, government regulations, and industry partnerships are recommended. The study’s findings can guide the tourism industry, fintech companies, and governments in supporting fintech …

Exploring The Spiritual Dynamics Of Orthodox Religious Tourism: An In-Depth Study Of Visitor Experience At Osovica Monastery, Ivan Kosta, Anđelina Marić Stanković, Danijel Pavlović, Marija Bratić, Slobodan Čerović

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism is increasingly becoming a significant component of global tourism trends, contributing to a substantial increase in tourist traffic worldwide. This study focuses on analysing the motives, reasons, effects, and expectations of visiting Osovica Monastery, a recently renovated sanctuary of the Serbian Orthodox Church within the Banja Luka Diocese in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis, this research explores the motivations behind visiting the monastery, the impacts of these motivations on visitor satisfaction, and the factors influencing revisits and positive feedback. Utilising a methodological approach that incorporates both psychological and …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …