In focus 5 - religious tourism in the urban setting of Varanasi in India

Abstract

Religious tourism, as one the earliest niche forms of tourism, attracts millions of visitors to destinations. It brings social and economic benefits, shapes the destination and its image, and prompts the need for tourism authorities to understand different needs, motives and behavioural patterns – including those of religious tourists (Gertner, 2019). When it comes to research on religious tourism, there is an inclination to explore the impacts on visitors who come for religious tourism, including traveller experiences and tourist behaviour (Collins-Kreiner, 2010; Bond et al., 2015), as well as the impact on the local communities and the built environment. In particular, the commercial facets of religious tourism are underpinned by indulgence in touristic activities, sacred destinations faced with increased growth, infrastructure needs, pollution, and issues of resilience and sustainability.