Religious Tourism Research Articles

SERVICES QUALITY IN RELIGIOUS TOURISM WITH REFERENCE TO NAVAGRAHA TEMPLES IN THANJAVUR DISTRICT

This research delves into the realm of Religious Tourism Service Quality, specifically focusing on the Navagraha Temples in the culturally rich Thanjavur District. As the oldest form of tourism, religious pilgrimage has witnessed substantial growth in recent years. The study employs the World Tourism Organization's standards to assess safety, hygiene, accessibility, transparency, authenticity, and harmony in the context of these temples. Using a structured questionnaire and statistical analysis, the research unveils pilgrims' perceptions of service quality across various dimensions and establishes correlations with overall satisfaction. The findings provide valuable insights for practitioners, temple management, and policymakers in enhancing the religious tourism experience in this region.

Evaluation of the operational performance of Karbala waste water treatment plant under variable flow using GPS-X model

Abstract As Karbala City is a religious tourism destination, millions of tourists visit the city annually, so there is a high fluctuation of flow in the wastewater between the plants during the year. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Karbala, Iraq, in removing pollutants for different flow rates in five scenarios using the GPS-X model. The most important phase in modeling, which greatly impacts simulation accuracy, is characterizing the influent composition to meet the mass balance. As a result, the influent wastewater was initially described and thoroughly examined. The model has been calibrated, followed by the collected data’s validation. The sensitivity of different stoichiometric and kinetic factors in the GPS-X was examined and screened to calibrate the model. To demonstrate the consistency between the simulated and measured data, the route mean square error was used in this instance. The result showed that the Karbala WWTP complies with Iraqi environmental regulations for water discharged to surface water or water for other uses and has an appropriate efficiency of wastewater treatment even if the flow entering the plant reaches the peak flow rate of 180,000/day. An improvement in orthophosphate removal efficiency was observed as the flow rate increased because of the contact time in the anaerobic basins, which gradually decreased as the flow increased until it reached the appropriate time for PO 4 3 − {\text{PO}}_{4}^{3-} removal. The outcomes of the present study provide an impression to the operators of the treatment plant of the impact of fluctuating flow on the treatment plant. The developed model can also be used for future studies.

Oral tradition, ancient history and religious tourism knowledge

ABSTRACT Religious tourism is one of the most longstanding forms of leisure related travel in the world with a history dating back to antiquity. However, there has been a hesitation amongst many tourism scholars to critically assess the role of ancient religious texts to understand the attitudes and behaviours of religious tourists and tourism destinations. With reference to literature on oral traditions, the aim of this exploratory paper is to critically consider the insights that can be derived from the Christian Bible for the management and scholarly understanding of contemporary religious tourism. This paper suggests that Christianity’s oral traditions and their ensuing written representation in the Bible provide an important means of understanding religion ‘as lived’ in the ancient world. Religious tourists are often driven by a pilgrim’s mentality to tread in the footsteps of the first apostles and other religious leaders. From a historical perspective, the oral formulation of the New Testament and its subsequent influence on the formation of the Bible as a religious text offers religious tourists an insight into such people and the places/ experiences that were important in the faith of the early church.

Religious and Cultural Embodiment in the Land of Osing: A Portrait of Hadrami Community in Banyuwangi, East Java

This paper investigates the portrait of Hadrami community in the land of Osing in Banyuwangi, East Java. Banyuwangi is one of the legendary towns where the Majapahit kingdom’s heritage was well preserved. This town is associated with indigenous ethnic people known as Osing, who have their own traditions, language, customs, and culture. Madurese, Javanese, Sundanese, Chinese, Europeans, and Hadramis are among the other ethnic groups that inhabit this region. Its diversity of languages, ethnic groups, and religions made Banyuwangi a welcoming place for Hadramis for centuries. During the Dutch East Indies, Hadramis conducted extensive trade via the island’s South Sea; this area was a trading port in East Javat. Hadrami community have permanently lived in the land of Osing since the early 18th century, bringing their livelihood, inter-ethnic marriage, Islamic teachings, and Arab culture. Therefore, this research examines religious and cultural embodiments between native people and Hadrami community in the land of Osing. The findings of this research show that Hadrami community in the land of Osing adopted local language for Islamic da‘wah. Furthermore, the Hadrami community has had a cultural impact on fashion, food, music, and religious tourism, with umrah and hajj becoming increasingly popular among native people since the late nineteenth century.

On the concept of the regional religious brand: The veneration and pilgrimage of Saint John Vladimir and new pathways for religious tourism

AbstractBuilding on the concept of regional branding, the paper seeks to pave new ground by delving into the novel concept of a ‘regional religious brand.’ As a new term in religious tourism, the ‘regional religious brand’ defines the function of distinguishing a spiritual value offered in a region as a concept and reality, containing a name, an iconography, a set of images, a pilgrimage, narratives, a slogan, visions, and symbols. After arguing that the territory of the former Archdiocese of Ohrid still qualifies as a region, we engage in one of the region's spiritual symbols, the veneration and pilgrimage of Saint John Vladimir and suggest a concrete pilgrimage route stemming from this regional religious brand.

Forest contribution to CO2 sequestration as mitigation climate change on the impact of tourism activities in Mount Tidar Botanical Garden

Forests offer the greatest environmental services in CO2 sequestration. According to the IPCC, forests have a lot of potential for mitigating climate change. The forest area in Mount Tidar Botanical Garden (MTBG) is used as a tourist attraction and is known as the most famous religious tourism object in Magelang. Tourist activities in MTBG are massive, tourist attractions are open 24 hours a day and never close, causing an enormous amount of CO2 emissions. This study aims to determine the total CO2 emissions of tourism activities, CO2 sequestration in vegetation MTBG, and provide recommendations on the types of vegetation that have the highest CO2 sequestration. This study is quantitative research. Primary data collection was done by taking data on vegetation diameter and LPG usage around the restaurant. The Data were analyzed by emission estimation and the allometric formula. The results showed that the total CO2 emissions from human respiration, the use of LPG, and vehicles amounted to 481,665 tons/year. The ability of plants in the MTBG forest has the potential to CO2 sequestration of 1.260,170 tons. Forests in MTBG can support climate change mitigation efforts in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals 13 because they can handle emissions with a surplus of 778,506 tons of CO2. Vegetation types that have high CO2 sequestration are Ficus benjamina, Calliandra calothyrsus, and Spathodea campanulata.

Transformation of Religious Tourism Destinations from Pilgrimage to Mosques: A Case Study of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Solo, Indonesia

Visiting religious tourism destinations to mosques is currently becoming a trend among Indonesians. Social changes in society in choosing religious tourism destinations are relevant topics for research. This study intends to explain the phenomenon of the transformation of religious tourism visit destinations from pilgrimages to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Solo. This study used a qualitative research method that uses data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. The data sources in this study are the community around the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, visitors, and managers of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The data were analyzed using data reduction techniques, data presentation, and conclusions. The empirical findings of this study have shown that there has been a shift in the goals of religious tourism destinations from those that used to be pilgrimages to tombs and have now shifted to visits to major mosques, one of which is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Based on the results and findings of this study, it can be concluded that transformation is closely related to the changes from one form to another. The findings of this study explain the process of transforming a religious tourism destination, which is usually a pilgrimage to a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The existence of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque has been proven to have a better financial impact on the surrounding community.

Pengelolaan Pariwisata Tirta Taman Mumbul Sebagai Wisata Spiritual Di Desa Sangeh

This research uses qualitative research methods to explore and analyze the marketing mix of Tirta Taman Mumbul as spiritual tourism in Sangeh Village, Badung Regency. The research method involves in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, direct observation, and content analysis from secondary sources.The research results highlight the importance of the cultural and spiritual characteristics of the Tirta Taman Mumbul location in developing marketing strategies. Market segmentation is based on tourists' preferences and spiritual motivations. The uniqueness of this destination and the spiritual experiences it offers are the main focus in designing the marketing mix.In the context of tourism competition in Bali, research findings emphasize the need for a differentiation strategy that reflects the authenticity and spiritual values of Tirta Taman Mumbul. The quality of service and infrastructure is identified as an important element to strengthen a destination's attractiveness.This research also highlights the importance of including sustainability aspects in the marketing mix to reflect responsibility towards the environment and local culture.Thus, this research concludes that a qualitative approach is able to provide in-depth insight in designing a marketing mix that is in accordance with the characteristics and spiritual values of Tirta Taman Mumbul, increasing its attractiveness as a unique spiritual tourism destination in Badung Regency.

Development of Inclusion Through Minority-Conscious Tourism in The Madura Religious Tourism Area

In carrying out sustainable development, paying attention to many aspects is necessary. This article explores the aspect of justice for the entire community, which is one of the characteristics of religious tourism branding, which can provide access to the entire community to feel comfortable and safe when traveling and create significant growth in the creative economy of the surrounding community. Madura is generally known as a religious area that emphasizes religious values. In religious values, God never differentiates between his people. The research used a qualitative approach with the interpretive method where informants experienced an in-depth interview. The research finding described that in its development, Madura religious tourism should pay attention not only to economic aspects but also to the involvement of social justice in providing opportunities for people with disabilities to access the religious facilities and religious tourism they have. Together with the tourism department, researchers are trying to provide suggestions and strategies for the sustainability of religious tourism development that prioritizes aspects of religious branding and justice for every congregation. With increasing attention to the rights of people with disabilities in religious tourism, the image and branding will increase to attract the wider community to increasingly visit tourism in Madura in general and religious tourism in Sumenep in particular. Development focusing more on the tourism sector and the creative economy should not marginalize people with disabilities as part of the development object. Therefore, inclusion-friendly tourism development needs to be an input for related agencies and local governments to uphold aspects of social justice among fellow humans.
 Keywords: Inclusion development, Madura, Minority-conscious tourism, Religious tourism

Upaya Meningkatkan Motivasi Belajar Siswa pada Pembelajaran PAI Melalui Metode Karya Wisata Religi

The lack of learning motivation of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Darussalam students Regency towards PAI lessons causes their learning outcomes to be less than optimal. Low learning motivation, lack of commitment and responsibility as well as active participation of students in responding to learning are obstacles in achieving learning success. To overcome these problems, Islamic Religious Education Learning requires innovative strategies to motivate students to learn. One method that can be used is religious tourism, which combines learning with direct experience at historical and religious sites. This research is a literature study which aims to analyze efforts to increase student learning motivation in PAI learning through religious field trips. In this research, literature was searched and analyzed related to the concept of learning motivation, PAI learning and religious tourism work methods. The results of the literature study show that the religious field trip method can increase students' learning motivation through direct experience and enrich their understanding of Islamic teachings and spiritual values.

Overwhelmed by beauty and faith: review on artistic and religious travelers' syndromes.

Traveling with the intention of encountering art or seeking purification of the spirit involves retribution of intangible nature and therefore can be expected to be a positive experience; nevertheless, among susceptible travelers, there is also a possibility of experiencing pathological conditions. Although it is colloquially known that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, it is necessary to mention that the appreciation of beauty, immensity, or mysticism contained in masterpieces is not perceived only through the eyes but through other sense organs as well. Additionally, this is understood within a cultural framework and through previous knowledge. The reaction triggers a series of somatosensory responses of diverse nature, with a wide range of responses that together constitute a pathological phenomenon that can be defined as syndromic by eliciting signs and symptoms of a physical, physiological, and psychotic nature. Both Stendhal and Jerusalem syndromes are travelers' syndromes that may occur in response to objectively aesthetic elements saturated with meaning linked to the cultural heritage of contemporary humanity. While Stendhal syndrome evokes physical and psychoemotional symptoms from the contemplation of art, Jerusalem syndrome goes beyond perception, adding delusions of being a religious or prophetic protagonist pursuing individual or collective salvation.

Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage in Vâlcea County, South-West Oltenia Region: Motivations, Belief and Tourists’ Perceptions

Vâlcea County in the South-West Oltenia Region, Romania, has a great diversity of tourist destinations and boasts an impressive number of monasteries, churches and places of worship. This research aims to comprehensively investigate how tourists perceive the main reasons for visiting religious settlements and the frequency in Vâlcea County, situated in the South-West Oltenia Region, by employing a two-stage methodology to understand the interplay of demographic variables, travel behaviors and individual motivations, while utilizing GIS and SPSS for spatial and quantitative analysis. The two stages are: (1) the analysis of the specialized literature to identify the motivations, beliefs and tourists’ perceptions regarding religious tourism and pilgrimage and (2) statistical analyses and interviews with internal stakeholders (residents), which present their tourist and religious perspective on Vâlcea County. The research questions aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between demographic variables, travel behaviors and individual motivations within this distinctive context. The research significantly contributes to furthering our understanding of the behavior of participants in religious tourism and pilgrimage in Vâlcea County, highlighting that certain variables, such as gender, education level and occupation, may or may not significantly impact their preferences and choices. Geographical Information System (GIS) software was used to map the study area and, at the same time, the main places of worship that were visited by tourists. The SPSS (version 15.0) program was used to investigate and analyze the quantitative research data. The results reveal that, in Vâlcea County’s religious tourism and pilgrimage, gender, age and education level do not significantly impact travel choices or visit durations. However, occupation emerges as a crucial factor influencing transportation preferences, while respondents’ place of origin shows no significant association with the presence of accompanying individuals during religious visits. The current research was limited by its focus on a single case study of Vâlcea County in the South-West Oltenia Region and the scarcity of previous studies on religious tourism and pilgrimage in Vâlcea County.

Digitalization Shaping Religious Tourism in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract- In the heart of Himachal Pradesh, amidst the towering peaks and whispering pines, lies a tapestry of sacred sites that beckon pilgrims from far and wide. With the advent of digitalization, these ancient pathways have been augmented by virtual guides, mobile applications, and online forums, enriching the pilgrimage experience and deepening cultural understanding. From virtual tours that transcend physical boundaries to social media platforms that foster community engagement, digital technology has become an indispensable companion for modern-day pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh. Keywords: Religious tourism, E-Connect, Digitalization, Technology, Sustainable Pilgrimage Management.

Development of Cultural and Faith Tourism in SCO and Turkic States: Uzbekistan's Potential and the Exemplary Turkish Case

This article treats Turkish tourism sector's recent changes, focusing on its increasing relationships with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries and Turkic states. The paper examines about Turkiye's efforts to expand its tourism partnerships beyond its traditional European allies and emphasizes its cooperation with SCO member countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Furthermore, it underlines Turkey's efforts to revive the ancient Silk Road—particularly through the "Middle Corridor" plan—in an effort to increase Turkic states' cultural, economic, and tourist collaboration. Cultural and religious tourism in the Turkic states is highlighted, with a particular emphasis on Turkiye and Uzbekistan. The paper concludes with practical proposals to further develop of cultural and faith tourism, i.e. effective promotional campaigns, cheap flights, and visa-free travel. Generally, the article provides a thorough overview of Turkiye's ever expanding tourism sector as well as its strategic efforts to promote significant cooperation within the SCO region.

Commercialisation of Christianity in Nigeria: A Review

This review investigates the commercialization of Christianity in Nigeria, delving into its historical roots and modern expressions. A booming economy that includes mega-churches, televangelism, religious tourism, and a robust market for faith-based goods and services has resulted from the nexus of faith and commerce. Factors responsible for the commercialization of Christianity and the impacts of commercialization on religious practices, and the larger socio-cultural fabric are critically evaluated in this study. The article examines how some charismatic leaders have shaped the religious-business environment and considers how this has an impact on the genuineness of Christian teachingsin contemporary Nigeria. This review adds to the on-going conversation on how Nigerian religious practices are changing and highlights the intricate interactions that exist between faith and business within the framework of Christianity. This review recommends more investigation into viable ways to promote peaceful coexistence of religion and business in Nigeria's Christian community.

The Religious Tourism Education With The Concept of Bioregionalism (Comparative Study of Bali Traditional Tourism Education and Islam Based Tourism)

Bali is onel of thel world-class tourist attractions in Indonelsia. Thel nicknamel Bali as thel island of thel gods shows Bali as a relligious island. Thel objelctivels of this relselarch includel thel delvellopmelnt of relligious tourism elducation baseld on Balinelsel customs and Islam and elducation on thel concelpt of relligious tourism baseld on tourist arelas baseld on "biorelgionalism". Thel melthod useld in this writing is a litelraturel relvielw melthod which is delscriptivel analysis through various litelraturel studiels to strelngtheln thel analysis which is supporteld by various sourcels which havel theloreltical delpth from elxpelrts. Thel findings show that relligious tourism elducation, such as tourism baseld on customs and Islam, nelelds to bel provideld in accordancel with thel delvellopmelnt of Islamic tourism in Bali. It will not belcomel morel advanceld if thel problelms faceld by managelrs of Islamic tourism selrvicels arel not bridgeld. Thelrelforel, thel delvellopmelnt of relligious tourism elducation which elmphasizels thel concelpt of Biorelgionalism is elxplaineld by thel elffelctivelnelss of relgulating spacel utilization in thel delvellopmelnt of tourist arelas baseld on local wisdom, which doels not yelt relflelct thel concelpt of sustainablel delvellopmelnt with a compleltel and comprelhelnsivel elnvironmelntal pelrspelctivel, namelly by taking into account elcological, elconomic and socio-cultural factors

On-off hybrid spiritual tourism in the new normal era

PurposeIn 2022, the new normal era began to experience an increase in the number of tourists visiting Bali. Even though spiritual tourism was optimistic in attracting foreign visitors, most tourists come from nearby nations like Australia, indicating that the visits had a brief duration in this new era. To sustain the income of spiritual tourism advocates, it is possible to overcome the brief visit. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the collaboration of digitalized spiritual tourism activities in 2022. Data were collected through literature study, observation and in-depth interviews to determine the spiritual tourism hybrid business. The result showed that the digitalization of spiritual tourism builds an on-off hybrid method in marketing and products, thus developing a theory of the characteristics. This on-off hybrid provides a touch of experience for tourists to visit directly. Therefore, digitalization builds the resilience of spiritual tourism in the new normal era through marketing and service of hybrid products.Design/methodology/approachThe gap between word-of-mouth marketing habits, direct product service and the tendency to digitize creates adaptation problems that take time. These problems make a practical contribution to building marketing and spiritual tourism products. The theoretical contribution is to build integrated marketing and spiritual tourism digital product concepts. A qualitative research method was adopted because the population of spiritual tourism is very limited. Therefore, it needs to be explored through experienced and knowledgeable informants. Literature study, observation and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. The literature study technique collects data from written sources, namely books, articles and internet sources. Observations were made by analyzing non-participants by recording various marketing activities and services for spiritual tourism products. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with informants about digitalization in the new normal era.FindingsThe result showed that the digitalization of spiritual tourism builds an on-off hybrid method in marketing and products, thus developing a theory of the characteristics. This on-off hybrid provides a touch of experience for tourists to visit directly. Therefore, digitalization builds the resilience of spiritual tourism in the new normal era through marketing and service of hybrid products.Originality/valueThe method has successfully built digital and direct visit products. Digital products share knowledge, while direct visit products serve to gain hands-on experience. These products provide income for spiritual tourism actors. However, direct visit products are more emphasized to spread income, such as hotels, restaurants and souvenirs. This development provides a theoretical implication that the characteristics of tourism products can be enjoyed at the service provider’s premises and the area of origin of tourists with digital technology. Therefore, digitalization has changed the theory of the characteristics of tourism products from having to be enjoyed by service providers (Yoeti, 1991).

The Influence of City Branding and E-Wom On Interest In Visiting Religious Tourist Attractions In Surakarta The Role of The Intervening Variable City Image

Religious tourism has become a significant sector of the tourism industry in many countries around the world. Religious tourism sites attract tourists who seek spiritual experiences, religious values, and cultural knowledge. One of the places that has a lot of religious tourism is Surakarta.The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of City Branding and E-Wom on interest in visiting religious tourist attractions in Surakarta, the role of the intervening variable City Image. This research method is quantitative. This study uses data in the form of primary data. This study uses a questionnaire method to collect data. The population in this study was obtained from the population of tourists in Central Java Province with a total of 1412. The sampling technique is purposive sampling. The number of samples in this study were 150 respondents. The data analysis technique in this study uses Partial Least Square (PLS) using the help of SMARTPLS software. The results of this study are City Branding and E-Wom have a positive and significant effect on City Image. City Branding, E-Wom and City Image have a positive and significant effect on Visiting Interest. City Branding has a positive and significant effect on Interest in Visiting which is mediated by City Image. E-WOM has a positive and significant effect on Interest in Visiting which is mediated by City Image.. The implication of this research is to help people to know more about the factors that influence tourist trust and interest in visiting.

Revitalization Strategy of "Asta Tinggi" Tourist Destination Based on Cultural Identity and Creative Industry in Sumenep, Madura

This study examines the strategy for the revitalization of the Asta Tinggi religious tourism area by utilizing the cultural identity and creative industries in Madura, Indonesia. More specifically, the revitalization strategy considers the active-collaborative involvement of the stakeholders. This study used a qualitative approach, with a phenomenological method. The primary data were obtained through field observations and in-depth interviews. Secondary data were obtained through literature references, news media, scientific documentation, pictures, and photos. This study found that the best model for the revitalization strategy of the Asta Tinggi religious tourism area must involve the Sumenep Palace family, the Asta Tinggi management unit, the private sectors, local communities, and local governments. The role of the Sumenep Palace family and the management of Asta Tinggi is very important because they have the rights and authority to manage the Asta Tinggi. The revitalization of this religious tourism area should be pursued by prioritizing the cultural identity of Madurese and the potential of digital-based creative industries. With this revitalization strategy model, it is hoped that the Asta Tinggi can be developed as a leading religious tourism destination in Madura, Indonesia.

Pengaruh Pelayanan dan Daya Tarik Terhadap Minat Berkunjung ke Objek Wisata Religi di Kabupaten Jombang

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of service and attractiveness on the intention to visit tourist objects in Jombang district. The method used in this research is a quantitative method. The population in this study is unlimited while the sample is 105 respondents using a purposive sampling technique. The data were collected using the questionnaire method, which were then analyzed using multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 26. The results showed that partially the service variable had an influence on the interest in visiting religious tourism objects in Jombang district, while the partial attractiveness variable also there is an influence on interest in visiting religious tourism objects in Jombang district. Simultaneously, the service and attractiveness variables affect the interest in visiting religious tourism objects in Jombang district.