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Ijrtp Volume 14(I) Table Of Contents, Ian S. Mcintosh, Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D., Kevin Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 14(i) Table of Contents

Special Issue papers from annual Sacred Journeys conferences held in Kyoto (Japan) in 2024 and Canberra (Australia) in 2025.

Editorial: Exploring The Personal, Spiritual, Cultural, And Historical Dimensions Of Sacred Journeys, Ian S. Mcintosh, Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The papers in this special issue of the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage represent a rich sampling of offerings from the annual Sacred Journeys conferences held in Kyoto (Japan) in 2024 and Canberra (Australia) in 2025. Collectively, they explore pilgrimage as a transformative and multifaceted practice that encompasses personal, spiritual, cultural, and historical dimensions.

Pilgrimage On Paper: A Contemplative Writing Practice, Angelika Halstead

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Autobiographers, poets, and journal keepers have always intuitively known the transformative and healing power of personal writing. Some people write in a cathartic way to empty themselves of stored up emotions and experiences. Having freed themselves from old baggage they are prepared for their lives to take new directions. Others write because they want to find out what they think and make meaning of their lives. They write in pursuit of truth and find that as they become honest and face the truth their lives change and their stories turn into new and re-storied versions. It is also known that …

The Stars That Fall At Our Feet: Personal Reflections On The Serendipity Of Liminality In Pilgrimage, Ian Palmer

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

I was not familiar with the concept of liminality before walking the Camino de Santiago (Camino Français) for the first time in 2000. ‘Liminal’ is a Latin word for a doorway. It is the ‘threshold’ or, literally, ‘the-rush-hold’. This paper explores liminality as an in-between space when we are no longer ‘here’ but not yet ‘there’. It is a time when we can take stock, review, remember, and re-frame. That’s a gift of pilgrimage; away from the familiar, away from routines and day-to day responsibilities: an in-between time. Link to this the feelings that come with serendipity and the liminality …

Mundane Or Mystical: Journeying From An Islamic Perspective, Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Within Islam generally, and Sufism in particular, journeying (safar) takes on a great importance. From the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) to the vertical night journey (almiraj), the well-trodden path (shari’ah) to the narrow path (tariqa), there are many kinds of journeying, all of which are ultimately understood as being in the path of Allah (fi sabillillah). Common to all types of journeying is an engagement with Allah’s signs (ayat) ‘on the horizons and within themselves’ so that, correctly understood, this will support the realisation of Truth (Qur’an 41: 53). For …

Pilgrimages In Aotearoa - Uncovering The Hidden, Giving Voice To The Silences, Peter Bowden (Te Atiawa, Ngati Te Whiti), Sarah Bowden

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Aotearoa / New Zealand has a history of colonisation with a significant destructive impact on Mãori, the indigenous people. It is only in more recent decades that this history has become more widely ‘remembered’ by the non-Māori population, in large part due to efforts made by Māori activists, scholars and legislators. The growing awareness of this difficult history is often met with a mixture of bewilderment and anger. The authors have observed a growing readiness in themselves and others to look at the emerging truth of our history. We see the practice of pilgrimage as a powerful tool to amplify …

A Spiritual Passage From Santiago To Sligo: Celtic Pilgrimage From St. John’S Eve To Queen Maeve’S Procession, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper explores the spiritual dimensions of Celtic pilgrimage through a comparative analysis of two journeys: the Celtic Camino, primarily known as the English Way to Santiago, in Galicia, Spain, and the pilgrimage to Queen Maeve’s Cairn in Sligo, Ireland. It examines how invented traditions and mythological narratives contribute to a sense of ancestral connection and spiritual homecoming. The study employs autoethnographic narrative and theoretical frameworks including Simon Coleman’s concept of laterality and Jenny Butler’s observations on neo-pagan re-sacralisation of the landscape. Field observations, personal reflections, and literature review inform the analysis. The paper identifies ritual, festival, and storytelling as …

The Transformative Essence Of Liminality: Pilgrimage And The Example Of St. Francis Of Assisi, John Kruse

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Looking at the life of St. Francis of Assisi (1181/2–1226) through the lens of liminality can help to understand this complex figure. Anthropologist Victor Turner, for example, has explored Francis’s embrace of poverty as a means of experiencing liminality and the communitas that accompanies it. Three episodes in the life of Francis in particular constitute liminal experiences in that Francis left behind old ways of being, crossed thresholds, and experienced transformation: his encounter with lepers, his renunciation of possessions and coinciding embrace of poverty, and his encounter with Sultan Malik al-Kamil. Understanding these episodes as liminal experiences not only helps …

The Journey Of The Soul In Aboriginal Australia, Ian S. Mcintosh

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

For the past decade, I have been studying pilgrimage in all its dimensions in what my colleagues and I have been calling a kaleidoscopic inquiry (McIntosh et al., 2024). In my current investigations, I have been exploring the journey of the soul upon the death of its host. My focus in this working paper is the myths and traditions of the Yolngu Indigenous peoples of northeast Arnhemland in remote northern Australia with whom I lived and worked in the 1980s and 90s. The Yolngu go to great lengths to prepare the dying for their ultimate journey, painting the body with …

Understanding The Rising Popularity Of (Un)Religious Pilgrims: Belonging Without Believing, Gregory Smith

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

While researchers are in agreement about the positive relationship between spiritual activities (SAs) and mental health (MH) among the general population, the relationship between spiritual tourism (ST) and MH, particularly among young adults, is yet to be adequately investigated. As such, important questions regarding the status of religion in the contemporary world can be addressed through the study of current pilgrimage trends. A ‘pilgrimage boom’ is occurring in Britain and other parts of the global anglosphere (Williams, 2020 & O’Keeffe, 2022). Yet, many of these modern pilgrims do not identify with established religious categories (i.e., Christianity). Significant gaps in our …

The Pilgrimage Paradox: Accepting Hardship As A Pathway To Peace, John K. Moore

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This essay examines the paradoxical relationship between pilgrimage and inner peace, focusing on the Camino de Santiago and referencing the Shingon Buddhist Goma fire ritual in Japan and the holy mountain of Kata Tjuṯa in Australia. While pilgrimage is often associated with physical hardship and discomfort, the paper argues that adopting a mindset of acceptance toward inevitable suffering can foster psychological and spiritual contentment. Drawing on historical, literary, and contemporary examples—including penitential practices, therapeutic walking, and rituals at the Iron Cross—the article highlights how symbolic acts of relinquishing burdens can lead to inner transformation and may set into motion one’s …

Reinventing Islamic Pilgrimage In Jogokariyan Mosque, Indonesia, Ahmad Izudin

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Indonesian Muslims have a longstanding tradition of visiting holy sites as part of Islamic pilgrimages. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in mosques as popular destinations for spiritual journeys and meditation. This shift could potentially impact local communities and may lead to the development of new pilgrimage routes within the context of spiritual exploration. However, this paper examines the Jogokariyan Mosque in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which has become a significant stop on the Islamic pilgrimage route. The author utilises a case study approach, collecting data through observation, interviews, and documentation. The study highlights that a mosque, as the material objective …

Developing Transformative Pilgrimage Tourism: Seeing The Relationship Between Stakeholders In Religion-Based Tourism Practices In Quds, Indonesia, I Nyoman Ruja

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The growing transformation of the pilgrimage tourism sector worldwide cannot be separated from relations between community groups, pilgrims and the tourism industry. This research analyses the relationships between stakeholders involved in faith-based tourism practices in Quds, Indonesia. Through a qualitative approach, we investigate, in Quds the interactions and relationships of multiple parties involved in the religious tourism industry, including pilgrims, government, local communities and related institutions. This research collects data through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. The results show that stakeholder relationships significantly create a sustainable religious tourism experience in Quds. Collaboration between pilgrims, the government and local …

Inventing New Pilgrimage And Religious Tourism In Lombok, Indonesia, Ujang Mahadi, Moch. Khafidz Fuad Raya, Aibdi Rahmat, Jonsi Hunadar, Rindom Harahap

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In the contemporary Muslim world, especially in Indonesia, the boom in religious tourism is increasingly widespread after the discovery of the grave sites of saints (wali) or people who are considered holy. More than that, pilgrimage is increasingly popular when these sites display natural views and multifaceted aspects, thereby adding to the intimacy of Islamic meditation and veneration rituals. This article focuses on five holy tombs in Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), considered tombs of Muslim saints. Using ethnography with observational techniques and unstructured interviews, we explore the construction of veneration and the marketing efforts of pilgrimages to the …

Conceptualising Sacred Grove Tourism For Future Research Models - A Research Note, Debasish Batabyal, Rupa Sinha Dr., Kareem M. Selem Dr.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Sacred groves or woodlands are known in tourism settings, they require a long historical process, and their classification as a unique tourism element is expanded in academic literature. To explore the characteristic features of sacred grove tourism, this research note reviews existing studies of tourism. Moreover, this research note seeks to uncover interesting socio-religious, cultural, and conservation dimensions that could guide policy-making in nature-based tourism. A comprehensive review of the tourism literature was conducted to determine whether sacred groves were included as a tourism feature. This research analysed previous studies on nature-based, religious, and cultural heritage tourism to formulate a …

The Power Of Historical And Creative Tourism For Sustainable Development Goals: Baan Khamkerm – Nong Seaeng Catholic Church, Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand, Preedaree Sirirat, Arnunnit Manorom, Supatcharee Boonprachoom

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study aims to develop a historical tourism route tracing seventeenth century French missionaries of Baan Khamkerm-Nong Seaeng in Nakhon Phanom Province while developing local storytelling and creating digital media from information of historical value transferred through locals’ identities. Saint Joseph’s Church in Baan Khamkerm is the oldest church in upper-northeastern Thailand. To protect this historical site, emerging disciplines have offered potential communication tools for stronger heritage management. The research design is based on Participatory Action Research (PAR) which collects data from five groups of key representatives from the community of tourism stakeholders: 1) local community; 2) tourism policymakers; 3) …

Review Of Dave Whitson, Pilgrimage: A Medieval Cure For Modern Ills, Matthew R. Anderson

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of Dave Whitson's book, Pilgrimage: A Medieval Cure for Modern Ills

The Correlation Between Spiritual Tourism And Mental Health Of Young People In Binh Duong, Vietnam, Anh Nguyen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

While researchers are in agreement about the positive relationship between spiritual activities (SAs) and mental health (MH) among the general population, the relationship between spiritual tourism (ST) and MH, particularly among young adults, is yet to be adequately investigated. As such, this research was conducted to determine the contribution of ST towards the MH of the younger generation. The respondents are undergraduate students located in Vietnam’s industrial province of Binh Duong. The findings, from the quantitative research approach, indicate that young people perceive ST mainly as a means for visiting places of worship, with little consideration for the MH benefits …

Drivers Of Religious Tourism In Nigeria: Spiritual And Secular Reasons, Olakunle Shakur Olawuyi Dr, Oluwafunminiyi Wasiu Raheem Dr, Adetunji Sunday Oni Dr.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious activities have been engaged by humans since time immemorial. People have moved from one location to the other to offer sacrifices and engage in ritual activities around sacred objects and spiritual beings. Travelling to religious destinations with an inclination towards tourism is essentially a form of niche tourism. This study investigated the drivers of religious tourism in Nigeria from the prism of spiritual and mundane reasons. Data were retrieved via key informant interviews conducted at Osun-Osogbo Groove and Olokun Temple in southwest Nigeria. The findings revealed that the religious beliefs of most tourists who visit the Osun Grove and …

Religious Travel To Sunan Papak’S Sacred Tomb, Garut , West Java, Indonesia, Yunus Winoto, Ninis Agustini Damayani, Teguh Husodo, Ute Lies Siti Khadijah, Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan, Falih Ijlal Septian

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The sacred grave of Raden Wangsa Muhammad, or ‘Sunan Papak’, is an important holy grave in Garut, Indonesia, attracting many visitors as religious tourists. The study aimed to find out the spiritual elements in a series of pilgrimage activities, the views of pilgrims on sacred objects and sacred water, and the motivations of pilgrims who come to Sunan Papak’s holy tomb. This study uses a quantitative approach via survey research. Data were collected using questionnaires, observations, expert interviews and documentation studies. Based on the results of the study, it was revealed that in carrying out this pilgrimage, various religious elements …

Segmenting Religious Tourists Based On Google Maps Reviews Using Latent Semantic Analysis And Hierarchical Clustering, Senthilkumaran Piramanayagam, Jyothi Mallya, Kartikeya Bolar

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Researchers in the tourism industry and academics are interested in analysing and extracting conclusions from user-generated data because they offer valuable insights into visitors’ motives, experiences, and consumption behaviour. However, religious tourists’ data have rarely been explored specifically in segmentation studies. Therefore, this study aims to segment religious tourists based on their Google Map reviews using Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) and hierarchical clustering. These analyses have resulted in three distinct segments: heritage explorers, aesthetes, and self-transcendence seekers. While heritage explorers are interested in learning about the cultural and historical significance of a site, aesthetes appreciate its beauty and art, while …

Grave Pilgrimage: The Interface Of Islam And Local Tradition In Indonesia, Nikmatullah Nikmatullah

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Grave pilgrimage is one of the important traditions for Indonesian Muslim communities, which is not only influenced by religious teachings but also influenced by local traditions. The harmonisation between Islam and local Sasak traditions forms the Sasak Islamic tradition practiced by the natives of Lombok Island. This article explains the motivations, meanings, rituals, and processions which pilgrims perform and the relationship between Islamic teachings and local traditions in the pilgrimage to the graves of Ulemas (Islamic scholars). To achieve this goal, the data of this qualitative research were obtained through observations, interviews, and online media to obtain in-depth data. The …

Timkat (Epiphany) As Living Faith: The Intersection Of Religion, Culture, And Tourism In Gondar, World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Balew Baye, Dagnachew Nega

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Epiphany celebration in Gondar, Ethiopia, is one of the most unique events in the world. Due to its outstanding cultural value, the Epiphany was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List. The remarkable history of Gondar and its vast cultural heritage make the city an open-air museum for the world. However, there has been little research focused on exploring the Epiphany celebration in Ethiopia. This study follows an exploratory and descriptive research design, utilising a qualitative approach. Interviews, observations, and document analysis were employed as data collection methods. Non-probability sampling techniques were used, specifically purposive and snowball sampling, involving …

Revisiting Tourism-Led-Growth Hypothesis In The Presence Of Structural Breaks: The Case Of Spiritual Tourism And Economic Growth In Saudi Arabia, Isiaka Akande Raifu, Lukman Lasisi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The study explores the Tourism-led-growth Hypothesis (TLGH) with a focus on spiritual tourism and economic growth in Saudi Arabia. Using the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) for 28 years of annual data, we evaluated the impact of religious tourism on economic growth in the presence of structural breaks. Our analysis yielded promising results; thus, we make 4 important contributions to the literature. First, we establish the presence of a positive relationship between spiritual tourism and economic growth across all our models. Second, we discover that domestic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia is a modest contributor to economic growth compared with international …

Ijrtp Volume 13(Iv) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 13(iv) Table of Contents

Modern Day Saints And The Production Of A Contemporary Pilgrimage Site: Comparative Analysis Of St. Pio Of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy And Sai Baba Of Shirdi, India, Kiran Shinde, Anna Trono Prof

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Places valorised by saints have attracted pilgrimage for a long time as devotion to saints is a way to achieve both material wellbeing and spiritual growth. Yet, the cult following of modern-day saints in contemporary societies has become a topic for exploration only in recent years (Di Giovine, 2010; Shinde & Pinkney; 2013, Srinivas, 2008). A few excellent hagiographies discuss the material and non-material world created around charismatic modern-day saints with global followership (Waghorne, 2004; Weiss, 2005; Shepherd, 1986). Given the immense popularity of modern-day saints many questions arise- what kind of pilgrimage landscape is created around them? Are they …

Editorial: 1st Asia Pacific International Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage Conference (Apirtp), Tran Huu Tuan, Lien Tran Thi Ngoc, Jaeyeon Choe, Giang T. Phi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Editorial: 1st Asia Pacific International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference (APIRTP)

Ijrtp Volume 13(Iii) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Tran Huu Tuan, Lien Tran Thi Ngoc, Jaeyeon Choe

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 13(iii) Table of Contents

Incorporating papers from the first Asia Pacific International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage conference in Hue University, Vietnam

Exploring The Drivers Of Tourist Satisfaction At Religious Sites: A Study Of Lumbini In Nepal, Bhim Bahadur Khadka, Prof. Anjani Kumar Malviya, Dipak Singh Rawat

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a religious destination attracting millions of tourists annually from Nepal and abroad, Lumbini offers a rich cultural and historical heritage. This study is, therefore, significant in exploring drivers of tourist satisfaction and the religious significance of Lumbini. This study employs a correlational research design and a quantitative approach to examine relationships among variables using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Data are collected using a survey questionnaire, yielding 403 valid responses after excluding incomplete data and outliers out of 500 returned questionnaires. Purposive sampling ensured the relevance of …

Analysis Of Pilgrimage To The Evangelical Lutheran Church In Zimbabwe (Elcz) Mission Centres, Rabson Hove

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is usually a sacred journey undertaken by religious adherents to holy places associated with their own traditions. As religions grow, religious pilgrimage also expands as the members of the religious traditions continue to influence each other. These holy religious centres influence religious enrichment, enhancement, strength and growth. Members get in touch with their origins and the history of the expansion of their religion as they encounter their holy sites or centres. In the case of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ), their important holy sites are missionary centres which are commonly located in rural Zimbabwe. The majority …