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Ijrtp Title Page And Table Of Contents Vol. 8(5), Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Daniel H. Olsen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Branding The Sacral Landscape: Religious Content In Regional Tourism Marketing, Set In A Post-Secular Society, Markus Hilpert

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

There is a paucity of research on the branding of sacral landscapes as a regional strategy in tourism marketing. On the one hand, the concept of place branding, to date, has been transferred very little to sacred destinations, while on the other hand, religious content and modern tourist marketing barely fit together. Nonetheless, the perception of religion in a postmodern society opens up new opportunities for sacred places to reposition themselves in the competition faced by tourist destinations. The aim of this article is to show how German tourism regions with a religious focus build their brand. Through analyzing six …

Star Rating Factors For Umrah Services: The Perspectives Of Umrah Operators And Consumers, Amran Harun, Aini Khalida Muslim, Dzunnur Dzail, Bestoon Abdulmaged Othman

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The star rating system is widely used in the hotel industry to classify hotels according to their quality. However, the Umrah industry in Malaysia has yet to adopt the system. Thus, their services are not monitored by a controlled and reliable rating system. The star rating is deemed important to Umrah consumers as the system would provide the consumers with information about basic facilities or services that can be expected. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the key elements of a star rating that would suit the Umrah industry in Malaysia and to accomplish this, perspectives of …

Anchorite Sacred Caves In Serbia: Balancing Between Pilgrimage And Religious Tourism Development, Aleksandar Antić

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Serbia is a country with diverse karst terrain, full of various surface and underground karst formations. This terrain is one of the factors that influenced the development of cultures and civilizations in this area. Many archaeological findings indicate that prehistoric people found refuge, safety and peace in many caves in present-day Serbia. The natural environment has also influenced many spiritual endeavours, which have shaped cultural identities throughout history. In this study, Orthodox anchorite sacred caves in Serbia are explored, as well as their related pilgrimage activities and potential for religious tourism development. For the purpose of this research, three pilgrimage …

Opportunities And Challenges Of Religious Tourism Development In Uganda: Policy, Planning And Institutional Perspectives, Jim Ayorekire, Joseph Obua, Francis Mugizi, Bruce Micheal Byaruhanga

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism is a steadily growing tourism product niche in Uganda after wildlife-based tourism. However, limited research has curtailed planning and development of religious tourism in the country. As a contribution to knowledge on his subject, this paper analyses the tourism policy, planning and institutional frameworks as a precursor to harnessing the potential of religious tourism in the country. Applying a mixed methods approach, the evolution of religious tourism in Uganda was reviewed. To examine actor perceptions and benefits of religious tourism, two case studies were undertaken with the help of a structured questionnaire and key informant interviews. A SWOT …

Pilgrimage As A Field Of Tourism Development: The Case Of Kavala (Northern Greece) And Its Institutional And Cultural Challenges, Thomas Bausch, Tilman Schröder, Alexey Gunya

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Developing pilgrimage tourism requires a set of unique attractors, as well as efficient destination governance structures that manage such attractors and balance stakeholder interests. This study analyses the development of pilgrimage tourism in Kavala (Northern Greece), a city with unique religious and cultural attractors connected to the Apostle Paul. By deploying a mix of literature review, on-site analysis and interviews with twelve local stakeholders, this paper first examines the general potential for pilgrimage tourism in the region and gives recommendations for its development. Subsequently, the study evaluates the progress of pilgrimage tourism development in Kavala after one year. The findings …

Core Dimensions Of Islamic Hotel Service: Towards Their Promotion In The Global Marketplace, Ahmad Azmi M. Ariffin

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study works to identify the core dimensions of the so-called ‘Islamic Hotel’. The main purpose is to provide some insights on how the resulting dimensions could be utilised as a competitive advantage to promote Islamic Hotels in the global market rather than to confine them merely to the Muslim segment. This study involving 782 tourists and employed both in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys as the methods for data collection. The results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis showed that there are seven dimensions of Islamic Hotels, labelled as Aurat, Halal Food, Mahram, Ibadah, Islamic Entertainment and Decoration, Islamic Management and …

A Naturalistic Inquiry Of Pilgrims’ Experience At A Religious Heritage Site: The Case Of A Shaktipitha In India, Harveen Bhandari, Amit Mittal

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religion in the Indian context is an inseparable element that dominates Indian lives, culture and psyche wherein significant number of people undertake pilgrimages every year. Pilgrims travel to different religious sites spread throughout the country and an intimate bonding exists between people and religious sites that invariably constitute their heritage. The worship of deities is a significant and popular ancient custom in the history of Indian culture. Pilgrims to any religious heritage site participate in different activities and their involvement in these activities builds their spiritual experience. So, the purpose of this research was to investigate the pilgrims experience at …

Faith-Based Activities And Tourism: Exploiting The Possibilities For Religious Tourism Development In Anaocha Local Government Area, Nigeria, Emeka Okonkwo, Afamefuna Eyisi, Daniel Okoye

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Over the years, people have travelled for various motivations, giving birth to various types of specific interest tourism. The result is that various scholars have devoted their research to these specific areas of tourism. One such area of tourism that has grown exponentially is religious tourism (which some scholars also called spiritual tourism). This type of tourism explores travels motivated by the desire to visit places that inspire an individual’s belief system and to meet with people that share the same faith. Our study aims to understand the faith-based activities and religious centres in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA) of …

Hindu Religious Motivations In Kashmir Valley, Hafizullah Dar

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research is an endeavor to assess the Hindu religious motivations in Kashmir valley (in India). Using a quantitative research approach, 267 Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir valley were asked to complete questionnaire to carry out this study. One sample t test and linear correlation modus operandi were introduced for testing assumptions of the study. It is evident from the study context that for centuries, the Kashmir valley has cultivated the religious history of the Hindu faith, which is palpable from the many sacred Hindu sites across the Valley. The study results revealed that the Kashmir valley is a significantly important …

Review Of: Religious Tourism In Asia: Tradition And Change Through Case Studies And Narratives, By S. Yasuda, R. Raj & K. Griffin, Daniel H. Olsen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Religious Tourism Vs. Sacred Space Experience: Conflict Or Complementary Interaction?, Tomasz Duda, Dariusz Doburzyński

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Contemporary religious tourism, which in many cases is incorrectly identified with the phenomenon of pilgrimage, has developed in recent years as a separate form of migration and activity in the tourism space. However, in the literature of the subject, there is a large variety of problem perspectives, depending on the viewpoint chosen by the given author and the scientific discipline that he/she represents. The most frequently occurring problem is the terminological ambiguity regarding the concepts of ‘religious tourism’ and ‘pilgrimage’. The aim of this article is to draw attention to the diversity of understanding of the sacred space presented by …

Rediscovering The Walisongo, Indonesia: A Potential New Destination For International Pilgrimage, Pierre Fournié

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The current paper explores the tradition of Walisongo, the nine saints or nine friends of God, that according to tradition initiated the islamisation of Java in the XV and XVI centuries. Largely unknown outside of Indonesia, the Wali Songo pilgrimage remains unfamiliar in the archipelago as well.

Besides allowing a deeper understanding of the roots of Indonesian religious history and of the spread and acceptance of Islam, rediscovering the Wali Songo may help to reintroduce a peaceful image of the Muslim world. In such a way, reactivating the tradition of Wali Songo outside of the country but also inside, may …

Spirituality, Organisational Climate And Religious Tourism, Gilson De Lima Garofalo, Terezinha Filgueiras Pinho, Moacir José Rossetti Júnior

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This contribution discusses spirituality in the context of organisations and issues that may arise with regard to those who, in the future will act in the field of religious tourism. In this way, it presents a proposal in terms of motivation, joy, inner peace and deeper understanding. Initially the work adopts the deductive method with descriptive research based on literature addressing the spirituality inherent in those who exercise or will carry out activities in this important tourism segment. A survey was carried out to explore the close connections between spirituality and religiousness, and link this to the behaviour and practices …

Motivations To Visit Jerusalem, Santiago De Compostela And Fatima As Sacred Destinations: A Generational Approach, Carla Silva, José Luís Abrantes, Ram Herstein, Manuel Reis

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The present study analyses in a holistic and multidisciplinary approach the motivations that tourists have to visit sacred places. The goal is to find out what are the key motivational factors that determine their choice. It supplies an extensive literature review focusing on the concept of motivations, which allows us to identify the main reasons that draw people to sites.

The fieldwork of this study includes pilgrims and or tourists at three sacred sites: Fátima (Portugal), Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and Jerusalem (Israel). Fieldwork includes surveys of 633 tourists from different religions visiting these symbolic places who belong to generations …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Religious Tourism And Local Development: Evidence From Lamego (Portugal) Historic Town, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Isabel Vieira, Luciano Ferreira, Rui Madeira

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The purpose of this study is to explore the views of different stakeholder groups (visitors, residents and local agents - heritage managers, tour operators, local authorities, Priests and head of the Church, directors of institutions linked to tourism) about the relationship between religion and tourism in a historic town setting. The main purpose is to examine the opinions/views/perceptions of different stakeholder groups about religious tourism and local development.

A mixed methodological (quantitative and qualitative) approach was used in order to analyse the perceptions and opinions of three stakeholders groups. The opinions of visitors (120) and residents (150) were analysed using …

Creating And Contesting Latter-Day Saint Pilgrimage To Nauvoo, Illinois, Scott Esplin

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (frequently referred to as Latter-day Saints or Mormons) share with other faiths a desire to celebrate sites significant to their founding. By memorialising religious sacred space, the Church of Jesus Christ has created a desire among many of its more than sixteen million members to retrace the steps of their early faith leaders as pilgrims. As with other religious sites around the world, Latter-day Saint pilgrimage destinations have also become scenes of contestation. Churches that divided from the original movement offer rival interpretations of the its history and beliefs, leading …

Nexus Between Religious Journeys And Economic Influences – The Case Of Saudi Arabia, Rozina Shaheen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research investigates the role of economic factors in affecting faith-based travelling to Saudi Arabia and suggests GDP per capita income, relative price, population size, trade volume and cost of travelling as major determinants of religious tourism to the country of destination. This study is an important contribution to the literature on religious tourism as it provides empirical linkages between spiritual decisions and economic influences. In addition, this study adds new propositions to theory and identifies religious tourism as a ‘Veblen good’. This research uses monthly data covering the time period 2004 m1 - 2015m12. It employs an ARDL bound …

Preserving Traveller’S Memory In Religious Destinations, Polyxeni Moira, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos, Anastasia Parasxi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Preserving memory from the visit of a tourist destination plays an important role in tourist activity. In pilgrimage in particular, and in religious tourism in general, the preservation of this memory constitutes a spiritual process associated with the sanctity of the place. Obviously, the degree of spirituality varies according to the traveller’s personality and religious beliefs. Following the return home, the religious memorabilia and ‘souvenirs’ play an important role in the ‘confirmation’ of the trip or the fulfilment of the vow, as well as in the preservation of the memory. At first one could claim that religious souvenirs serve or …

Accessibility On The Santiago Ways: The Portuguese Central Way, Maria De Fátima Matos Silva, Isabel Borges

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this article the authors discuss the accessibility of religious architectural heritage, using the case of Santiago de Compostela and one of its routes: the Portuguese Central Way between Porto and Valença. The discussion includes a comparison with results obtained in a study of the itinerary between Tui and Santiago, made by Xunta de Galicia (2015), the only existing study to the best of our knowledge. The historical and theoretical framework draws on the extant literature and its critical review, related to religious and cultural tourism, with special emphasis on accessible tourism. Accessible Tourism must comprise a set of products …

Regional Economic Impact Of Small-Scale Pilgrimage Sites: Local Value Added By Small Sanctuaries In Rural Areas (Bavaria, Germany), Markus Hilpert

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Today, pilgrimage is experiencing increasing interest, although the reasons for doing so are changing. Locations along pilgrim routes and popular sacred sites, normally profit economically, but to date, the regional economic effects of even very small pilgrimage sites are underexplored. Therefore, in this regard, this study examines two small-scale pilgrimage sites in Biberbach and Wigratzbad (both in Bavaria, Germany), using interviews and calculations. We find that even small pilgrimage sites can produce a notable increase in regional EVA and create jobs through local businesses. There is much to suggest that this is not only due to demand, but also, and …

Terrorism In The Middle East: Implications On Egyptian Travel And Tourism, Tamer Z.F Mohamed, Tamer S. Elseyoufi

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper attempts to shed the light on challenging issues affecting travel and tourism industry especially in the Middle East such as political, socio-economic and security instability. Due to its geopolitical and historical importance, the paper focuses on the situation in Egypt as a descriptive case study. The methodology relies on historical review and impact assessment to understand the roots and extended branches of instability in the Middle East that led to the Arab Spring, by focusing on the Egyptian case in the last half century. The assessment explains the negative effect of Western and Egyptian policy on extending the …

What Is Pilgrimage?, George D. Greenia

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The term ‘pilgrimage’ has become a commonplace in modern conversations about any travel that is announced as ‘intentional,’ ‘purposeful,’ ‘transformative,’ or simply promises to be ‘authentic.’ Scholars have to navigate between the twin advantage and liability that pilgrimage studies operate under no one disciplinary lens or unified methodology, and the historical range is infinite. Many feel that modern tourism needs to preserve a place for the respectful non-believer without degrading the experience of traditional religious pilgrims. To some degree all intentional travelers are open to an experience of the transcendent that’s compatible with their belief systems and they are willing …

Governance And Management Of Religious Tourism In India, Kiran Shinde

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism constitutes the dominant form of tourism in India and yet little is known about how it is governed and managed. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of governance and management of religious tourism. It first provides an overview of policy framework and governance mechanisms that are relevant for religious tourism. Then a market profile is presented to examine how the religious tourism economy intersects with the state-apparatus of policies and institutions. To better explain the complexities of religious tourism, the paper employs the axis of formal-informal economy: the informal end is where the religious tourism …

India’S Buddhist Circuit(S): A Growing Investment Market For A “Rising” Asia, David Geary

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

With the growing economic rise of Asia most of the international spotlight has focused on the rapid growth and industrialisation spearheaded by China and India, with little attention on the role of India’s robust religious tourism market that remains a vital part of its economic growth. In recent years, the development and promotion of religious circuits has become a cornerstone of India’s tourism marketing campaign that aims to capture both domestic and foreign exchange earnings. To explore the relationship between tourism and India’s religious circuits further, this article examines the role of India’s Buddhist circuit and how a series of …

Pilgrimage-Tourism: Common Themes In Different Religions, Noga Collins-Kreiner

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The paper discusses common themes in different religions regarding pilgrimage-tourism and has four main goals. First, it shows that the boundaries between pilgrimage and tourism have become blurred. Second, it characterises the different changes that have taken place in pilgrimage research in recent years. Third, it re-examines three different pilgrimage case-studies in an effort to draw conclusions pertaining to the ‘pilgrimagetourism nexus’; and fourth, it highlights discrepancies between the ‘old’ paradigm, predicated on the assumption that religious elements lie at the core of pilgrimage, and the results of more recent research on secular models of travel, highlighting alternative and complementary …

Places Of Faith: Architectures For Hospitality In The Italian Sanctuaries In The Early Modern Age, Silvia Beltramo

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The strong affluence of pilgrims in monasteries and sanctuaries since the Middle Era, determined a veritable culture of hospitality, which was manifested by the building of new spaces dedicated to guest quarters. This research investigates in detail some meaningful examples amongst the main Italian sanctuaries - namely: Vicoforte and Oropa (Piedmont), Tirano (Lombardy) and Loreto (Marche) - looking at the solutions adopted to host the wayfarers: the hospitality spaces which characterised architecture dedicated to pilgrims between the Middle and the Early Modern Ages. Throughout this period of time, the continuous increase in pilgrimages implied new definitions of the space within …

Systems (Holistic) Approach To Religious Tourism, Tadeja Jere Jakulin, Alan Clarke

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Systems Approach has been accepted within natural sciences since Ludwig von Bertalanffy published his manifesto of general system theory (Bertalanffy, 1952) and Norbert Wiener his on Cybernetics (Wiener, 1948). The intention of general systems theory and cybernetics is the ‘ontology’ of action, which is shown by feedback information. Its goal is to find a method to predict the consequence of a decision-making action. Industrial engineering recognised it, when Forrester published the work Industrial Dynamics (Forrester, 1961) and social sciences rediscovered it with Senge’s work on the learning organisation - The Fifth Discipline (Senge, 1990). Systems Approach is a methodology for …

The Importance Of Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage: Reflecting On Definitions, Motives And Data, Kevin Griffin, Razaq Raj

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This discussion paper explores the topic of religious tourism and pilgrimage, examining it from a tourism industry perspective, reflecting on definitions, motivations and scale of the ‘product’ as reported at a global level. Mindful of the fact that international records of religious tourism are scant to say the least, this is an attempt to bring together definitions, classifications and data which come from a variety of sources. The paper draws together understandings from different religious traditions, presenting data and motivations on a variety of pilgrimage types. As the paper demonstrates, this ‘niche’ product is indeed enormous, and if industry projections …

How Visible Are Sacred Sites Online? : Availability Of European Sacred Site Websites, Onur Akbulut, Yakin Ekin

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Sacred sites are places where the spiritual world meets the real world. Every culture in the world seeks to acclaim the mysterious, the divine, the martyred or the extraordinary. There are vast numbers of sacred places of prehistoric, historic and contemporary culture in the world. The internet has become a popular tool for gathering information about sacred sites as well as imagery and other required details related to the travel attraction of sacred sites. The internet sources possess an inevitable impact during the selection process of a sacred destination. This study aims to investigate the online background of sacred sites …