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Spiritual Wanderings In ‘The Garden Of The Virgin Mary’ - Mount Athos, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos, Polyxeni Moira, Kyriakos Tselegidis

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious-cultural tourism is a form of alternative tourism associated with trips taken by individual travellers or organised groups to areas, sites or monuments with a strong religious character. Simultaneously, pilgrimage is manifested in these places as the totality of activities carried out by individuals or groups in areas, spaces, sites, and monuments of religious significance, with the predominant motivation being spiritual ascent from earth to heaven, i.e., communication with the Divine, fulfilling vows, or substantial participation in religious ceremonies and events (as part of one’s religion). A significant site with intense visitation and a large number of pilgrims is the …

Religious Night Tourism During Ramadan In Mashhad, Iran: Lived Experiences Of Pilgrims, Neda Zarandian, Razieh Rabani, Daniel H. Olsen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Mashhad, located in northeastern Iran, is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the Islamic world, attracting millions of visitors annually to the Imam Reza Shrine (The eighth Imam of Shia Muslims). During Ramadan, the city transforms into a vibrant spiritual and social space where nocturnal religious practices and social gatherings shape distinctive emotional and temporal experiences for both pilgrims and tourists. Understanding these lived nighttime experiences is essential for developing culturally sensitive and spiritually meaningful tourism approaches. Despite the growing attention to religious tourism, the temporal, emotional, and sensory dimensions of night tourism in pilgrimage contexts remain unexplored. …

Possible Contestation Between Pilgrimage And Tourism: A Spatial Analysis Of The Shrine Of Shahjalal, Zarin Tasnim Rashid

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper aims to examine the contestation between pilgrimage and tourism by conducting a spatial analysis on the shrine of Shahjalal, a prominent pilgrimage site in Bangladesh. It analyses particular components of this site through the lens of Kim Knott’s (2009) concept of a spatial approach based on four essential characteristics that connect a location to the larger whole of space. This paper followed a qualitative research method and more specifically content analysis. Being a prominent pilgrimage site in Bangladesh, the Shrine of Shahjalal, turns into a centre of contestation due to the presence of tourists and other existing stakeholders. …

Pilgrimage As A Regional Socio-Economic Driver: Case Study Of Sarria, Km 0 Of The Camino De Santiago, Mª Carmen Pardo Lopez, Mónica Cortés Garcia

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores the potential of pilgrimage as a catalyst for tourism growth, with a specific focus on the municipality of Sarria, located along the renowned Way of Saint James (El Camino de Santiago). Despite its international fame, many municipalities along the route fail to capitalise on the socio-economic opportunities presented by pilgrimage tourism (Machado & Pardo, 2018). Sarria, known as ‘Kilometre Zero’ for pilgrims on the French Way, serves as a critical starting point for obtaining the Compostela certificate. This research employs destination planning methodology, utilising qualitative and quantitative data through surveys, interviews, and mystery shopper audits, to analyse …

Invited Editorial: Scandinavian Pilgrimage Reinvented, Jane Widtfeldt Meged Mrs, Andreas Skriver Hansen Mr

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This editorial offers initial thoughts about how Scandinavian pilgrimage possibly is being re-invented after 500 years of intermission. Although the church has been involved in all three Scandinavian countries, it is argued that pilgrimage to some degree is developing and being practiced along different lines in the three countries. In Denmark, pilgrimage can be said to often fall under an entrepreneurial, tourism start-up category. In Sweden, the church in some ways has appropriated pilgrimage as leverage in connection with the separation of church from the Swedish state. In Norway, pilgrimage has mainly been used by public authorities as valorisation of …

Ijrtp Volume 14(Iii) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Title page and Table of contents for Volume 14(iii) of IJRTP - International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Sacred Steps: Walking, Religion, And The Path To Peace, Francesca Benna

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Walking is one of the simplest and most primordial human acts, yet it carries profound meanings that transcend cultures, religious traditions, and paths of individual and collective transformation. Walking is not merely a means of movement but a practice that fosters reconnection with oneself, the environment, and the community. Bruce Chatwin, in The Songlines (1987), highlights how nomadism is an inherent human condition, suggesting that movement is essential not only for physical survival but also for mental and spiritual well-being. In an era marked by environmental crises, conflicts, and increasing technological alienation, rediscovering the value of walking responds to a …

Ijrtp Volume 14(Ii) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Giovanni Ruggieri, Darius Liutikas

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Special issue of papers from 16th International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference, Palermo, Sicily, June 2025.

‘Clothesure’: The End Of The Narrative Of A Pilgrim’S Clothes; And How Pilgrim’S Clothes Contribute To Narrative Identity, Stephen F. Haller

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper provides the story, or narrative, which explains how pilgrim’s-identity is created and endures through the clothes they wear. The closure, or preferred ending, of this story of a pilgrim’s clothes, would be a ceremonious disposal, like burning them. Pilgrims are reluctant to simply throw their clothes, boots, and gear away. This paper is a philosophical reflection on how a pilgrim’s clothes construct the identity of a pilgrim; and how inanimate objects, like clothes, might become meaningful, or even ‘sacred’ in a non-religious way. This comes about because of a decision to treat them that way. We make sense …

Faith, Culture, And Transformation: A Case Study Of Tumane Monastery Visitors, Danijel Pavlović, Marija Bratić, Anđelina Marić Stanković, Ivan Kosta (Hieromonk Ilarion), Dimitrije Plećević

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study examines the experiences of visitors to Tumane Monastery, one of the most significant Serbian religious and pilgrimage destinations. Located in a peaceful natural setting, Tumane Monastery is renowned for its spiritual significance, rich history, and connection to miraculous events, making it a key religious and cultural destination in the Braničevo District of Eastern Serbia. Its unique blend of sacred heritage and natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual and cultural enrichment. Using a survey-based approach, the research analyses the demographic characteristics, motivations, behaviours, and perceptions of visitors, as well as the personal and spiritual effects of their …

The Goshuin Journey: Sacred Seal Pilgrimage In Contemporary Japan, Nachika Kaneko, John Shultz

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Goshuin (御朱印), red stamps accompanied by calligraphic inscriptions obtained at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, have become a universal and critical element of sacred site visitation in Japan. Their collection represents perhaps the most widespread form of pilgrimage in contemporary society. Seal-oriented pilgrimages, known as goshuin meguri (御朱印巡り), are typically free-form and self-directed, and this practice entered a nationwide boom that appears to have peaked around 2019. Despite its popularity, goshuin pilgrimage has received only limited—and often speculative—scholarly attention, with little reliance on empirical data. Kinjoji Temple (金城寺), a Shingon Buddhist temple in Toyama Prefecture, is known for offering a …

Dante Down Under: Poetic Inversion And The Way Back To Eden, Mary A. Watt

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In the closing moments of Dante’s Inferno, as the pilgrim protagonist and his guide, the Roman poet Virgil, finally emerge from the dark depths of hell, their hope of reaching paradise is rekindled as they look up, ‘to see once again, the stars.’ This directional shift has been effected at the centre of a spherical earth, where Dante and Virgil had to invert themselves in order to start the journey to the southern hemisphere. To find his way back to the ‘right road,’ Dante has had to turn himself upside down, but in order to craft a redemptive iter …

The Migrant As A Pilgrim: Decolonising Identity And Belonging, Susan Nemec

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper responds to pilgrimage scholar George Greenia’s assertion that meaningful intersections exist between pilgrimage and various forms of displacement, such as migration or involuntary exile due to famine, war, or political unrest. Greenia proposes that vulnerable, displaced individuals might find shelter, both conceptually and emotionally, within the framing of pilgrimage. By extending concepts of pilgrimage, it can be understood as a deliberate and intentional journey, simultaneously emphasising the transformative potential inherent in migratory movement. By adopting a working definition of pilgrimage as ‘any form of travel that is intentional, purposeful, or transformative,’ the paper considers how migrancy, particularly within …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

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

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

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 …

Evaluating The Religious Experience Of Pilgrims At Kartarpur Corridor: A Qualitative Analysis, Farooq Haq, Anita Medhekar

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This exploratory study analyses experiences of pilgrims from India and all over the world to Kartarpur Peace Corridor for religious tourism. The historic Kartarpur Corridor, the holiest place for the Sikh religion, in Pakistan, was opened for Sikh pilgrimage in November 2019, after 72 years since partition. The qualitative research method of cultural ethnography and netnographic research, was applied to collect secondary data by watching 78 YouTube interviews from November-2019 to March-2020, at the Kartarpur complex by private bloggers. Interview comments by pilgrims relevant to this exploratory research were selected, analysing experiences of pilgrims and spiritual tourists traveling from India …

Defamiliarizing Pilgrimage Literature: Humour In Al-Māzinī’S Journey To The Hijāz, Boutheina Khaldi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages to Holy Places in Mecca and Medina have spawned a rich repertoire of travel literature by Nahḍa luminaries at the beginning of the twentieth century, however, few studies have been written about their travel accounts. This paucity of research might be ascribed to the view that accounts of pilgrimage tend to be highly formulaic and instructive rather than literary. By examining the ʿUmra (lesser pilgrimage) travelogue of the prominent Egyptian intellectual, literary critic, Romantic poet, novelist and journalist, Ibrāhīm ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Māzinī (d. 1949) entitled Riḥlat al-Ḥijāz (1930), this paper argues that pilgrimage travelogues can in fact defy the …

Religious Reinterpretation In The Pilgrimage Experience To The Ganges River, India Of Balinese Ethnic Hindus, I Gede Sutarya, Thanakorn Chooksukhserm

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The interaction between Balinese ethnic Hindus and India in the modern era is reestablishing a connection between Balinese local knowledge with Hindu religious destinations in India. Balinese folklore mentions various holy places, including the Ganges River, which is considered part of Bali's sacred worship domain. This ceremonial tradition causes the ethnic groups to worship the Ganges and request for holy water, eliminating the need for the direct pilgrimage to the holy place. In the modern era, the tradition of seeking holy water has evolved into a driving force behind the interest in the pilgrimage to the Ganges River. This leads …

Dark Tourism And ‘Partial Religiosity’: Ontological-Aesthetic Pilgrimage In Camiguin Island, Philippines, Jan Gresil Kahambing

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper theorizes the contrast between dark tourism and what is referred to as ‘partial religiosity’ in the context of travel to selected tourist destinations on Camiguin Island, Philippines. Also called ‘thanatourism’, dark tourism is about visiting places that challenge the value derived from the association with death either from tragedies of naturally occurring catastrophes (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or typhoons) or disasters produced by humans (such as genocides and violations of human rights). Focus is on three spots that sufficiently fit the description of dark tourist sites in Camiguin in the sense of naturally-caused disasters, namely: the Sunken …