Tourism Commons^™

D3) Sacred Steps: Walking, Religion, And The Path To Peace, Francesca Benna

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

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, 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 deep …

C2) Generation Z Tour Guiding Performance With Tourists From The Three Abrahamic Religions, Vitor Ambrósio, Carlos Santos

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Major changes are occurring in tourism and enterprises should try to be proactive. Through higher education, students are exposed to the latest knowledge that should also benefit the entrepreneurs of the tourism sector. Yet the connection between institutions of knowledge and the tourism trade is critically lacking. All parties involved are aware of this, however, there are no clear guidelines on how to build more solid bridges between different actors. Many evidence and studies suggest that Muslim tourists have become an important global market (Oktadiana, 2021), also Jewish tourists are quite important for the tourism industry (Lybra Tech SRL, 2025). …

D1) Sacred Tattoos And Pilgrimage Tourism As Spiritual Identity, Rossana Salerno

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Pilgrimage tourism and sacred tattoos represent unique intersections of cultural heritage, spirituality, and personal identity. Pilgrimage tourism involves journeys to sacred sites, often for religious or spiritual reasons, and has evolved into a global industry. Sacred tattoos, deeply embedded in various cultural and religious practices, symbolize a connection to the divine or mark significant life events.

This study explores the evolving role of sacred tattoos in the context of pilgrimage tourism, where travelers seek not only physical journeys to sacred destinations but also spiritual transformations through body art. Sacred tattoos often serve as markers of identity, protection, or devotion, integrating …

D2) Montserrat: A Millennium Of Faith, Pilgrimage, And Cultural Heritage, Silvia Aulet, Dolors Vidal-Casellas

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In 2025, Montserrat (in Catalonia) is celebrating the millennium of the foundation of the monastery, an event that will mark a thousand years of history, faith and culture in this emblematic sanctuary. This anniversary represents an extraordinary opportunity to promote religious and spiritual tourism, reinforcing Montserrat as a destination for pilgrimage.

Montserrat is a point of reference for millions of visitors annually, both for its religious importance and for its natural and historical heritage. The combination of faith, culture and nature makes this a unique destination for pilgrims, hikers and tourists from all over the world. The millenary is an …

C3) From Ritual To Heritage: Mountain Pilgrimages And The Transmission Of Practices In Corsica, Angelina Antonetti

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In Corsica, mountain pilgrimages serve as a key vector for the transmission of the sacred and a marker of collective identity. Rooted in popular religiosity, these practices intertwine ritual performance, oral tradition, and spatiality, shaping a unique relationship between faith and territory. The study of these pilgrimages offers a means to examine the processes of sacralization of mountain spaces and their role in the transmission of religious practices, as well as the question of their heritage status.

This study focuses on three mountain pilgrimages in Corsica: Sant'Alesiu di Sermanu, Sant'Alesiu d'Alisgiani, and San Bertuli d’Orezza. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, it …

C4) Rewriting Pilgrimage Narrative For A Young Audience In Love From Mecca To Medina, Dorothy Lane

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In my latest scholarship, I focus on fictional texts that incorporate and yet challenge the conventional pilgrimage narrative, and the nexus of spiritual, personal, and professional elements involved in travel to sites of sacred significance, often tracing traditional pilgrimage routes. In this paper, I will revisit that diasporic element in SK Ali's young adult novel Love from Makkah to Madinah (2022), which again transgresses definitions of genre, incorporating a pilgrimage narrative, a romance of two young adult Westernized Muslims, and a focus on grounded (sand) and simultaneously transcendent (stars) travel through sacred space and text.

My study integrates dialogue with …

A2) Motivations For Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage: Spirituality Or Modern Tourism, Razaq Raj, Kevin Griffin

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Religious tourism and pilgrimage represent vital dimensions of global travel, deeply embedded in cultural, spiritual, and economic frameworks. This paper examines the definitions, motivations, and statistical insights surrounding these faith-based journeys, highlighting their enduring significance. Religious tourism encompasses visits to sacred sites, participation in religious events, and engagement in spiritual retreats, while pilgrimage specifically refers to journeys undertaken to fulfill religious obligations or seek divine enlightenment.

The motivations driving religious tourism and pilgrimage are multifaceted. They range from spiritual fulfillment and cultural exploration to communal participation and personal transformation. Key pilgrimage sites such as Mecca, Vatican City, and Varanasi draw …

B1) Integrating Spirituality And Culture In Visitor Experience: The Case Of The Cathedral Of Barcelona, Silvia Aulet, Anna Vilanova

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Sacred sites such as the Barcelona Cathedral have a significant symbolic role and act as guardians of tradition, being an example of the convergence between tangible and intangible heritage. Tourism management must take this duality into account to offer an enriching experience to visitors. The Cathedral of Barcelona, with more than 1,700 years of history, is a sacred space that has stood testimony to the deep connection between human beings and religious faith. This temple is not only a cultural centre, but also a cultural and tourist reference that attracts an important part of the visitors who arrive in the …

A1) Preserving The Sacred: Combating Vandalism In Religious Monuments, Polyxeni Moira, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Acts of vandalism against monuments have been recorded since antiquity. According to the German historian Gregorovius, the habit of travelers carving their names onto monuments is as ancient as human vanity itself. In the Egyptian Thebes, Greek and Roman travelers covered the Colossus of Memnon with inscriptions. Vandalism as an act began to be scientifically studied during the 1970s and 1980s by researchers from various disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, criminology, law, architecture, and others. The documentation of acts of vandalism in tourism has been noted by researchers, although the phenomenon has not received significant attention in academic study. The …

B3) Tourism Asset Management In Religious Cities: A Study Of Religious Resources In Japanese Sacred Sites, Shin Yasuda

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The flourishing of the religious tourism industry worldwide has created opportunities for the development of various religious products and services at sacred sites. Indeed, the expansion of commercial spaces on the periphery of holy sites demonstrates that contemporary sacred sites can be analysed in terms of not only their religious significance and the religious motivations of visitors but also their economic dimensions, including commercial activities and property management in such places.

In previous studies, Shackley (2001) and others have emphasised the concept of management at sacred sites, highlighting the importance of analysing commercial spaces surrounding these sites, as well as …

A4) Religious Tourism And Religiosity Among Generation Z From A Postsecular Context, Elzbieta Bilska-Wodecka, Justyna Liro

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Due to historical conditions and the social-cultural changes in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries among other factors, and despite secular processes, remarkably, religious and spiritual motives still continue to be common among travellers around the world. Therefore, the popularity of religious and spiritual travel cannot be simply explained by the growth in the religiosity of societies. It should be emphasized that this is postmodern phenomenon, reflecting one of the indirect aspects of post secularization, especially in European societies, and a way for individuals to affirm their faith. In contemporary societies, religiosity of Europe is experiencing profound transformations, especially among young …

B4) Transforming The Sacred Space Into A Historical Place: The Case Of Paco Cemetery In Manila, Philippines, Jerome Ong

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Paco Park, a peaceful modern-day recreational garden, is situated in the heart of Manila, Philippines. It was originally used as a municipal cemetery, primarily for the wealthy Spanish families during the colonial era. Then known as Cementerio Genreral de Dilao o simply Paco Cemetery, it was initially built by the Dominican friars in 1807 that became the burial ground for cholera-stricken victims during the 1820s. During the Spanish regime, a number of renowned Filipino heroes and personalities were interred at the Paco Cemetery at the onset, including the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal and the three martyred priests …

A3) Faith, Culture, And Transformation: A Case Study Of Visitors To The Tumane Monastery, Marija Bratic, Danijel Pavlovic

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This study examines the experiences of visitors to the Tumane Monastery, one of the most significant Serbian religious and pilgrimage sites. Located in a peaceful natural setting, the Tumane Monastery is known for its spiritual importance, rich history, and connection to miraculous events, making it a key religious and cultural destination in the Branievo District of Eastern Serbia. The unique combination of the monastery's religious heritage and natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual and cultural enrichment.

Using a survey methodology, this research analyses the demographic characteristics, motives, behaviours, and perceptions of visitors (believers, pilgrims, and tourists), as well …

B2) Local Governance And Community Regeneration: A Case Study In The North Of Portugal, Carlos Fernandes, Isilda Leitão

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Our Lady of Peace is one of the several titles attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. The main theme of Our Lady’s messages is the call to peace and reconciliation obtained only through prayer. Our Lady of Peace churches and shrines may be found throughout the world. One is a Marian shrine and pilgrimage site in a remote mountain village in Ponte da Barca, in the North of Portugal This paper aims to disseminate the story of a small religious shrine and examines the local governance and development initiatives being taken to stimulate visitation.

The …

Keynote 1: Sacred Landscapes And Pilgrimages: The Spatial Manifestation Of Religious Beliefs, Darius Liutikas

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This presentation explores the intricate relationship between religious practices and sacred landscapes, emphasizing how beliefs, rituals, and pilgrimage shape and transform these spaces. It examines the spatial expressions of faith and their impact on cultural landscapes, revealing the dynamic interplay between religion and the physical environment. Sacred spaces, including houses for worship and pilgrimage sites, serve as focal points for worship, contemplation, and communal rituals, linking the spiritual and material worlds.

The study highlights the existential cycle of sacred spaces, comprising five stages: creation, affirmation, preservation, reuse, and destruction. These phases demonstrate the evolving nature of sacred landscapes, reflecting shifts …

Sustainable Tourism Behaviour Through Walking Tour: A Qualitative Study To Walking Tour Participants In Jakarta, Melisa Bunga Altamira, Khairunnisa Devani Aqtus Permana Putri

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

As urban tourism continues to rise, walking tours have emerged as a low-impact, environmentally friendly, and culturally immersive form of tourism. This study explores the relationship between walking tours and the development of sustainable tourism behaviour among participants in Jakarta, Indonesia. Using a qualitative research approach, this study elaborates the motivations, perceptions, and behavioural changes of individuals who have participated in walking tours across Jakarta’s historical and cultural sites. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and participant observations, focusing on themes such as environmental awareness, appreciation of local culture, and reduced dependency on motorized transport. The findings suggest that walking …

A Comprehensive Science Mapping Of Tourism And Hospitality Research: Tribes, Territories And Networks, Songshan (Sam) Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliographic analysis of the field of tourism and hospitality research by mapping the contributions of researchers, research institutions and evolution of research topics and collaboration networks. Metadata from 27 SSCI and 30 ESCI tourism and hospitality journals were collected from Web of Science. Data analysis was conducted utilizing R package of Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny, adhering to the guidelines of bibliometric analysis. The study identified topics of sustainability and IT technology applications in tourism and hospitality as the recent research fronts. An increasing number of Chinese origin researchers emerged in the author collaboration network, …

Confucian Virtue Ethics And Tourists’ Response To Spiritual Destinations: Ho Chi Minh City, An Sor Model Approach, Nguyen Van Si, Vo Duy Minh

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study aims to identify key factors that impact tourists’ responses, such as electronic word of mouth, and revisit intention to spiritual destinations. Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, this study introduces ritual propriety in Confucian Virtue Ethics as a new ‘stimulus’, along with destination image and tourism facilities. In addition, this study introduces spiritual belief and gratitude as two new ‘organisms’ together with destination attachment. The quantitative analysis of 470 spiritual tourists’ responses in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that ritual propriety, destination image, and tourism facilities as ‘stimuli’, impact gratitude, spiritual belief, and destination attachment as ‘organisms’, resulting …

"La Vida Es Un Carnaval": An Exploration Of Cuban Identity And Nostalgia Through Dance/Movement Therapy - A Community Engagement Project, Maria Fernanda Mendez Mendoza

Expressive Therapies Theses

“La Vida Es Un Carnaval” is a community engagement project and thesis that explores how identity and nostalgic resilience show up through dance/movement therapy with Cuban immigrants living in the United States, specifically Massachusetts. This project brought together six Cuban-born participants, ages 26 to 67, each with their own unique migration stories; from the Rafter Balsero Crisis of 1994, to the “Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot” policy, and family reunification. Through a mix of in-person and online sessions, participants explored their experiences using intermodal activities including dance/movement therapy techniques, conversation, journaling, artwork, and music. Themes of cultural pride, “Cubanía” – Cuban-ness, culture shock, and …

Orick Rising: Assessing The Tourism Potential Of Orick, California, Mikel Ash, Zac Claus, Matt Cherovsky, Sophie Collins, Lavender Deng, Teddy Goyette, Keegan Henry, Nancy Nazario, Ara Pachmayer, Mike Sanchez

Recreation Tourism

This project explores the current landscape and future potential for recreation and tourism development in Orick, California. It highlights how natural, built, cultural and economic systems shape a community’s identity, functionality and appeal for residents and visitors. Findings reveal that effective integration of natural and built systems, combined with strong governance, cultural stewardship and tourism planning is essential for sustainable growth, enhancing resident well-being and leveraging tourism as a key economic driver while preserving environmental and cultural assets.

Constraints Of Pt. Dyandra Promosindo Sales Division In Arranging The Indonesia International Motor Show 2023, Syahadam Muhamad Irfan

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

Tourism is a journey that is carried out by someone for a while and is carried out from one place to another. with tourists, business suppliers, government of tourist destinations and local communities of tourist destinations. The tourism industry is a fairly broad industry, one of the industries included in the tourism industry is the MICE industry. MICE is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The development of MICE occurred because of the company's need to hold meetings with the aim of expanding the company's business. MICE and the tourism industry cannot be separated because the definition …

Sundanese Culture Education Strategy At Sman 1 Depok, Fernandez Rayhan Al Asskari

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study aims to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of Sundanese cultural education strategies implemented at SMA 1 Depok. This research uses a qualitativeapproach with data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, and documentation studies. The respondents of the study were students and teachers at SMA1 Depok who were involved in Sundanese cultural education programs. The results showed that the Sundanese cultural education strategy implemented at SMA 1 Depok has succeeded in increasing students' understanding of Sundanese culture. Students show a high interest in learning Sundanese culture and expressing it in various cultural activities at school. Teachers also …

Promotion And Marketing Role In Increasing The Amount Of Umrah Package Sales At Pt Turisina Buana Tour And Travel, Dyandra Shafa Quamila

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study examines the role of promotion and marketing in increasing the sales of Umrah packages at PT Turisina Buana Tour and Travel. The aim of this research is to explore how promotional activities and marketing strategies implemented through social media can enhance the number of Umrah pilgrims, as well as to identify the supporting and inhibiting factors affecting their effectiveness. A qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through observation and in-depth interviews involving the Director of PT Turisina Buana and a customer who has used the company’s services. The findings indicate that social media promotion, supported by the …

The Implementation Of Digital Marketing Strategy At The Inacraft 2023, Ranisya Yasfiani Syafira

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

Digital marketing or digital marketing is needed by companies to market a product or service using digital media or platforms so that they can cover a wider market with the internet. The use of digital marketing strategies is carried out by many companies, one of the companies that uses digital marketing strategies is PT Mediatama Binakreasi. The final work entitled Digital Marketing Strategy at the Inacraft 2023 Event at PT Mediatama Binakreasi discusses five aspects of strategy including customer engagement, viral marketing, buzz marketing, peer influence, and online community, which are implemented by the Marketing Communication division at PT Mediatama …

Cultivating Community And Commerce: A Summary Of The Statewide Social And Economic Impacts Of Utah Farmers Markets, Jaclyn Pace, Bryn Watkins, Roslynn Mccann, Steven Price

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Data collected from six markets throughout the market seasons between 2023 and 2024 highlights the transformative impact of Utah’s farmers’ markets on the state’s economy, health, and sense of community. According to market patrons, Utah’s farmers' markets are vital economic and social hubs supporting local agriculture, small businesses, and community well-being.

Sostenibilidad Ambiental En Comunidades Mayas: Riesgos Y Desafíos En La Era Del Cambio Climático, Gertrudis Guzmán Noh Dr.

Journal of Maya Heritage

El presente artículo analiza las dinámicas de sostenibilidad ambiental en comunidades mayas del estado de Yucatán, México, enfocándose en los riesgos ambientales y las respuestas adaptativas desarrolladas frente al cambio climático. El trabajo se desarrolló en tres comunidades: Yaxunah, caracterizada por la producción artesanal y la sobreexplotación del árbol de Chaká (Bursera simaruba); Ixil, que enfrenta disputas territoriales e inundaciones recurrentes; y Sotuta, afectada por la contaminación acuífera derivada de una granja porcina en zonas aledañas. Metodológicamente, se implementó un enfoque de investigación acción participativa que integró diálogo de saberes, matrices de análisis de riesgo y estrategias de intervención comunitaria. …

The Influence Of Hadrah Arts And Emotional Intelligence Towards The Students Social Skills At Mts Nurusshibyan, Siti Fatimah

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study aims to determine the effect of hadrah activities and emotional intelligence on the social skills of students at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Nurusshibyan, Singkawang City. This research uses a quantitative research method with the use of questionnaires as a data collection tool. The subjects of this study were students at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Nurusshibyan in Singkawang City totaling 181 people with the following characteristics: MTs students, grades VII-IX, 101 female respondents and 80 male respondents. The sample determination used the Slovin formula with a Margin of Error of 5%. The results of the study are as follows: (1) Social skills at …

Reimagining Cultural Intersections: A Book Review Of Maya Christian Murals Of Early Modern Yucatán, Texas University Press, 2024., Lilia Fernández Souza Phd, Lilia Lucia Lizama Aranda Dr., José Israel Herrera

Journal of Maya Heritage

Colonial mural art in the Yucatán Peninsula represents a cultural intersection where Christian iconography and Maya artistic traditions converged in a complex visual dialogue. Maya Christian Murals of Early Modern Yucatán (Texas University Press, 2024) offers a detailed analysis of these pictorial expressions, exploring how Indigenous artists reinterpreted colonial impositions by preserving ancestral techniques, materials, and symbolism. The book proposes a rereading of the murals in Franciscan convents, highlighting their role not only as tools of evangelization but also as evidence of cultural resistance and adaptation.

This review, titled Reimagining Cultural Intersections: A Book Review of Maya Christian Murals of …

Glotopolítica, Identidad Y Lenguas En México En El Siglo Xxi, Marilyn S. Avalos Huesca

Journal of Maya Heritage

Languages, like human beings, have been adapting to the changes produced worldwide, and with this they have grown in number of speakers or disappeared forever from society. These changes are not given arbitrarily, but are conceived from politics and the State, where what should be the best for the speakers, nationalism and society permeates according to the statutes established by those in power. All this from an ethnocentric point of view, which denigrates what is different, what we do not understand, and therefore, we reject. This article analyzes the presence of languages in Mexico from a point of view related …

Analysis Of Operational Form Function For B3c3 Exhibition Hall At Indonesia International Furniture Expo (Ifex) 2023 By Pt. Dyandra Promosindo, Mireil Priscilla

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

Good service can be provided, one of which is by providing operational needs services that are well met for exhibitors, which have been implemented at the IFEX 2023 event. In its implementation, good cooperation is needed in understanding the needs of exhibitors so that everything related to what is needed can be recorded properly and ultimately be used effectively to support the running of the IFEX 2023 event. This study analyzed the role of the Operational Form, especially for exhibitors in the B3C3 area at the IFEX 2023 event. The purpose of this study was to determine how important the …