Tourism Commons^™

G1) Virtual Religious Tourism - An Agenda For Future Research In The "Ai Revolution", Eleanor O'Keeffe, Ruth Dowson

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Developments in contemporary society that resulted from initial lockdown phases of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued as the world discovers new ways of living and engaging with others. The changes that disrupted social interactions around the globe impacted on spiritual and religious practices in diverse cultures. A major innovation in the pandemic was the increased use and production of virtual pilgrimage. This introduced new ritual producers to virtual pilgrimage, created new partnership opportunities, and engaged a far wider audience, creating a potentially significant cultural site of intergenerational, transnational, and multi-cultural action and exchange. Virtual pilgrimage is now a rich and …

H2) The Exploration Of Tourists’ Motivation Of Religious Sites Visitation In Destinations Less Popular In Religious Tourism, Po Man F. Tse

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Religious attractions have been playing a critical role in tourist destinations. Most of the studies focused on exploring the motivation of tourists visiting sacred destinations where the religion is originated. Yet, little is known on the motivations of tourists visiting religious sites in destinations that are less popular for religious tourism (Tse & Ho, 2019). Besides, relationship between motivation and place attachment is crucial to the development of destination, tourist management and the design of marketing strategy (Ogunjinmi et al., 2019).

Motivation is the driving force that arouses and influences travel behaviour (Prayag & Lee, 2019), which also affects tourists’ …

H4) Developing Faith Based Visitation For Malta A Pilot Project For A Quality Tourism Experience, Julian Zarb

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The concept for developing faith-based visitor experiences has emanated from the principles of community-based tourism, first researched by Peter Murphy (1986). Since 1958, these islands have attracted visitors for sun and sea holidays, normally at the peak between June and September, although there have been attempts over the past twenty years to offer opportunities during the “shoulder” months. The type of visitor during the “shoulder” months has varied from the MICE business visitor to the visitor coming to these islands to attend some concert or theatre presentation. Some visitors have been interested in the culture and heritage, although this is …

G4) Unveiling The Potential: Exploring The Role Of Waqf In Catalysing Islamic Religious Tourism Growth, Tariq Elhadary, Razaq Raj

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This paper explores the proportional relationship between Islamic waqf and the growth of tourism, with a specific emphasis on Islamic religious tourism. Islamic waqf refers to the endowment or charitable trust established under Islamic principles, aimed at promoting religious, educational, or social welfare activities. Over the centuries, waqfs have played a crucial role in supporting various institutions and initiatives within the Muslim world. Tourism, as a global industry, has witnessed significant growth in recent years. With the rise of Islamic religious tourism, which caters to the specific needs and interests of Muslim travellers, there is a need to examine the …

H3) The “Tradition” Of The Torchlight Procession Of Solferino (Fiaccolata Di Solferino)., Mara F. Dissegna

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This paper describes a case study of a “pilgrimage”: the Red Cross (RC) torchlight procession of Solferino. This “tradition,” born twenty years ago, represents a fundamental moment of the RC-RC Movement year after year, bringing thousands of members worldwide to Castiglione delle Stiviene yearly. It is vital because many members from around the globe return to the origins as a refreshment of the movement's principles memory. The “fiaccolata” goes from Solferino (RC Memorial) to Castiglione delle Stiviere. It represents the way of the people who, after the battle of Solferino (2406/1859), brought almost all wounded soldiers from the battlefield to …

H1) ‘Clothesure’: How A Pilgrim’S Clothes Can Become ‘Sacred’ And Contribute To Narrative Identity, Stephen F. Haller

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This paper provides the story which explains how pilgrim-identity is created and endures through the clothes they wear; and why pilgrims are reluctant to throw their clothes, boots, and gear away preferring instead to dispose of them ceremoniously; for instance, burning them.

We understand our lives as stories. Narrative is what unifies a life, and chapters of that life, into a whole, with a beginning, middle and end. The choices of what to link together into a story are what makes meaning out of that which would otherwise be a random collection of events. Stories come to an end, which …

Keynote 2: The Rebirth Of The Santiago Way As A Model And Parameter For The Creation Of Cultural Itineraries, Paolo Caucci Von Saucken

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The revival of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela was driven by a complex set of factors that converged and solidified in the second half of the twentieth century. Chief among them was the role of the Catholic Church and the regular celebration of Holy Years, proclaimed whenever July 25th—the feast of the Apostle James—falls on a Sunday. Each occasion, supported by modern and effective means of communication, has served to rekindle and promote the pilgrimage to Compostela. A pivotal moment in this revival was the declaration of Pope John Paul II during the Holy Year of 1982, in which he …

F2) Seeking Zion: Motivations Behind Latter-Day Saint Pilgrimage-Like Travel To Religious Heritage Sites, Daniel H. Olsen

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

This presentation examines the motivations behind pilgrimage-like travel among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to religious heritage sites such as Palmyra, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City. Although LDS doctrine does not include a formal theology of pilgrimage, these journeys fulfill spiritual, social, and pedagogical functions that align closely with traditional pilgrimage frameworks. Drawing from the interdisciplinary fields of pilgrimage studies, religious tourism, and Latter-day Saint theology, this research conceptualizes LDS heritage travel as a form of modern, constructed pilgrimage grounded in processes of place-making, memory, identity, and faith reaffirmation.

Through qualitative synthesis of existing …

E3) Developing A Model For Religious Tourism Governance: Comparing The Soumela Monasteries In Turkey And Greece, Dino Bozonelos, Nuray Turker

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The growth in religious tourism, through people of faith and cultural tourism, is in contradistinction with the global decline in religious attendance. While many increasingly secularized individuals are less involved with organized religion, the desire for spiritual experiences has continued. This leads many to travel to sacred sites, valued for their authenticity. This growth necessitates good governance when it comes to sacred destination sites. But what does good governance actually look like when it comes to religious tourism and pilgrimage? How does this occur when the sacred space serves the needs of multiple visitors, including pilgrims, religious tourists, and cultural …

E1) Revisiting The Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy In The Philippines: Personal Reflections And Lessons Learned Thirty Years After, Katherine Arceta

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

The Bocaue Pagoda Festival has been celebrated annually in the Philippine province of Bulacan since the 1850s to honor a miraculous event in history, where a local woman was saved from drowning in a river by holding onto a floating cross. Since then, the fluvial parade, which consisted of ceremonial barges held every first Sunday of July, steadily gained popularity and attracted pilgrims from within and outside the locality. On July 2, 1993, however, an unfortunate event struck when a large pagoda carrying hundreds of pilgrims and devotees sank due to overloading that resulted in the deaths of 266 people. …

E2) Killing Bali (Part Ii), Pierre Fournie

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Tourism is growing and growing fast. Before the pandemic, in 2018, the number of arrivals worldwide reached 1.4 billion arrivals from less than 600 million, twenty years earlier. In Indonesia, after being elected in 2014, former President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of tourism, considered as a strategic sector. It had to become the largest exchange currency contributor bypassing rubber, coal, oil and gas.

In the collective awareness of tourists, Bali remains the place to go. International visitors praise the beautiful landscapes and paddy fields of Bali, the uniqueness of its Hindu and Buddhist cultures. In 2018, the “island of …

F1) Hermitage And Digital Storytelling: A Case Study For Sustainable Visitorship, Antonio Lenzo

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Hermitage and tourism may appear to be potentially unrelated, even antithetical. And yet, hermitage practices, both historical and current, have often elicited a strong attraction for the movement of people towards rural areas especially in the context of pilgrimage and religious tourism. While in some cases this activity has led to overtourism, storytelling related to hermitage practices may also be pivotal in the fostering of sustainable tourism practices.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte San Giorgio, at the border between Italy and Switzerland, presents a long-standing history in which the movement of people has been heavily shaped not only …

F3) From Religious Sites To Cinematographic Sets. The Symbolism Of Religious Cultural Heritage In The Italian Serie “Lolita Lo Bosco”., Antonietta Ivona, Lucrezia Lopez

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

Religious cultural heritage is a fundamental pillar of territorial identity, especially in regions with a deep historical heritage such as Apulia, in the South of Italy. In addition, it has historically been a key element in the construction of audiovisual narratives, providing symbolic depth to the stories and enriching their aesthetics. The Italian series Lolita Lo Bosco, A Tv series set in Apulia (Italy), takes advantage of these sacred spaces not only as physical scenarios, but also as vehicles of cultural and symbolic significance, historical memory, traditions and tensions between modernity and cultural heritage.

This presentation analyzes the use of …

C1) Critical Reflection On The Specificity And Coherence In Portugal Of Processions And Pilgrimages As Religious Practices, Adalberto Dias De Carvalho

International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conferences

In an anthropological and ethical tourist exploration of religious practices, silence due to its symbolic and spiritual value stands out, among others, as an important and profound experience. It is used in different ways, depending on the religious tradition, but it always emerges as being powerful in deepening the connection with the divine and facilitating inner meditation.

In Christianity, silence, by fostering a more direct relationship with the sacred, also promotes listening to the ˜answers of the entity to which that communication is especially directed.

Since the acceptance and practice of silence is inherent and clearly compatible with ritual solemnities, …

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). …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …