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Review Of: A Research Agenda For Religious Tourism, By Kiran A. Shinde & Joseph M. Cheer (Eds.), Lucrezia Lopez, Laura Augello

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: A Research Agenda for Religious Tourism, by Kiran A. Shinde & Joseph M. Cheer (Eds.)

Review by Lucrezia Lopez ([email protected]), University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, & Laura Augello ([email protected]; [email protected]), University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain & University ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’ of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.

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. …

Exploring Challenges For Relationship Marketing Based On Vertical Partnerships Among Smes For Developing Spiritual Tourism: A Case Of Kartarpu, Farooq Haq, Mohit Vij, Naveed Yasin, Amitabh Upadhya

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Spiritual tourism has evolved as a growing segment of special-interest tourism, attracting increasing attention from both public and private sectors. While government agencies are primarily responsible for infrastructure development at spiritual sites, the private sector plays a crucial role is delivering products and services that enhance the visitor experience. Although collaboration between these stakeholders is vital, the role of relationship marketing, particularly through vertical partnerships, remains underexplored in the context of spiritual tourism. This study addresses this gap by examining vertical partnerships as a relationship marketing strategy at Kartarpur, a prominent Sikh pilgrimage site. Employing a case-study approach, the research …

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

Motivation, Tourists’ Activity-Based Engagement And Place Attachment: An Exploratory Study Of Religious Attractions In Less Prominent Religious Destinations, Po Man Tse, Yan Pui Crystal Lee, Sau Ying Pamela Ho, Shun Mun Helen Wong, Chi Lok Andy Tai

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores the relationship between tourist motivation and tourist activity-based engagement, considering the mediating effect of place attachment in the visitation of religious attractions in less prominent religious destinations. A quantitative approach was applied, with 319 questionnaires distributed at Hong Kong’s two most popular religious sites: Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple and the Big Buddha. The analysis showed that place attachment is an important mediator between tourist motivation and engagement. In the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple case, the mediator counteracts the negative direct effect between tourist motivation and immersed involvement. A full mediating effect …

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.

Sacred Or Sold? A Systems Approach To Balancing Spirituality And Commercialisation In Faith-Based Tourism, Tadeja Jere Jakulin, Dane Munro

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper examines the complexity of pilgrimage tourism, with its interdependencies among sacredness, spirituality, and commercialisation at faith-based tourism destinations. We use a Systems Approach to move beyond linear thinking that positions spirituality and commerce as inherently oppositional forces, arguing that pilgrimage destinations function as complex adaptive systems in which spiritual, commercial, and educational objectives interact dynamically. We build Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) formed from autoethnographic observation and stakeholder discussions. We present and compare four pilgrimage sites: Lourdes (France), Brezje (Slovenia), Malta, and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia (Türkiye). The CLD models reveal the dynamics of the pilgrimage sites, the interdependencies, and …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

Exploring How Religious Tourism Influences The Motivation Of Young Thai Tourists In Bangkok., Arisara Seyanont

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism in Thailand encompasses a wide range of tourism related to religion, including traditional festivals and various religious activities. Today, temples or religious places in Thailand have become tourist attractions that people pay attention to, including groups of teenagers. Young Thai tourists show interest and travel to temples to ask for blessings, seek more amulets, and participate in Dharma practices. Within this context, this study aims to explore the components of religious tourism that influence the motivation of young Thai tourists in Bangkok. The components of religious tourism consist of 5 dimensions: 1) architectural design, painting, and sculpture; 2) …

Promotion Of Religious Tourism In Pakistan Through Destination Marketing Strategies, Noor-Ul- Huda, Musa Khan, Noman Ahmed Ansari

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The aim of this study is to identify the key factors that attract religious tourists to Pakistan and the strategies that are effective in promoting religious tourism. The paper takes a comprehensive approach to guide Pakistan’s development by evaluating international literature, focusing on religious tourism as a pivotal source of revenue. The study explores diversification prospects, aiming to equip policymakers and tourism authorities with actionable insights. This research establishes the groundwork for realising the economic, social, and cultural potential of religious tourism in Pakistan by studying marketing techniques using a qualitative methodology, examining revival approaches, and investigating cutting-edge communication technologies. …

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 …

Editorial: The 2nd Asia Pacific International Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage Conference (Apirtp), Darius Liutikas, Imam Wahyudi Karimullah, Sonny Elfiyanto

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Editorial and overview of 2nd International Asia Pacific Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference (APIRTP) was held in Universitas Islam Malang in Malang, Indonesia on 17 – 20 January 2024.

The Modern Pilgrimage Of Umrah: The Convergence Of Spiritual Devotion And Pop-Consumer Culture In Indonesia, Syamsu Madyan, Habil Abyad, Imam Wahyudi Karimullah

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores Umrah’s significant growth as a religious tourism model in Indonesian Muslim society. The discussion examines factors that influence that growth, from the increased income levels of Indonesian middle-class Muslims to the Umrah propaganda generated by the wave of social media. This study will also capture Umrah as a solution for Indonesian Muslims to the long waiting queue for Hajj quota in Indonesia, as it is seen as a good opportunity for religious commodification through the touristic market being exercised by stakeholders such as policymakers and travel agencies. As the Umrah tourist market will be analysed in this …

Nostalgia, Trauma And Recovery: A Case Study Of Hazrat Hamza Shah Shrine, Ismail Rafik Shaikh, Subhash Kizhakanveatil Bhaskaran Pillai, Indrawati Indrawati, Irfan Syed Mirza, Yu-Fang Yen, Arina Khoirunnisa

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism, as a pillar of spirituality and faith, continues to uplift and encourage believers in times of hardship. However, religious tourism was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many stakeholders at different levels. This study explores the experiences of various stakeholders at the Hazrat Hamza Shah Shrine in Goa over three different time periods: nostalgia (before the pandemic), trauma (during the pandemic), and recovery (following the pandemic). Utilising qualitative data from interviews and social media sentiment analysis (53 posts on Facebook, 185 on Instagram, 64 on YouTube, and 102 on Google Maps), the study has identified a …

Crafting Myths In Modern Times: Essentialising Duty, Obligation And Exchange In Religious Tourism, Anuja Jose, Vinita Chandra, Uday Pratap Singh

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper aims to study the factors that contribute to the success of present-day myths in religious tourism. It also seeks to investigate the factors that compel modern pilgrims to accept a certain myth and the role played by stakeholders of religious tourism in the creation of a myth. In order to explore these research questions, Kauḍī Mātā temple in Varanasi, a popular religious tourist spot for Southern Indians, was chosen for Case Study. Qualitative data have been generated through in-depth interviewing. Simultaneously, several myths of goddess Kauḍī Mātā were recovered from textual and digital sources in addition to the …

Review Of: The Routledge Handbook Of Religious And Spiritual Tourism, By Daniel H. Olsen And Dallen J. Timothy, Bincy Kaluvilla

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Book Review of Review of: The Routledge Handbook of Religious and Spiritual Tourism, by Daniel H. Olsen and Dallen J. Timothy. Review by Bincy Baburaj Kaluvilla

Explaining The Satisfaction Of The Religious Tourist: The Case Of Maimonides In The City Of Cordoba, César Mora Márquez, Angelo Puccia

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Tourism was one of the most severely affected sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic. Even religious tourism, traditionally less susceptible to market fluctuations, is now compelled to adopt innovative strategies in response to these effects. This article analyses the satisfaction of religious tourism, specifically its relationship with the figure of Maimonides, who is considered to be an important religious thinker and is included within the Pantheon database of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A questionnaire was distributed and completed by 720 tourists in the city of Cordoba, Spain, which has close links to Maimonides. The findings indicated that the spirituality …

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

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 13(i) Table of Contents

A Study Of Push And Pull Motivational Factors Of Religious Tourism In India, Niharika Singh, Somesh Dhamija, Aruna Dhamija

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study investigates the motivational factors that drive both foreign and domestic religious tourists to visit Vrindavan, one of India’s most famous Hindu religious sites. Using an established push and pull framework, the research explores why tourists choose Vrindavan as a destination for religious tourism. Based on existing theoretical and empirical studies, the researchers developed a quantitative approach, employing a three-part questionnaire to collect data from 598 visitors. Through Principal Component Factor Analysis, the study identified five key push factors and four pull factors, with religious beliefs and cultural enjoyment being the most prominent. The findings confirm the relevance of …