Pilgrimage Sites Research Articles

The structure and content of the religious tourism destination image construct: an exploratory netnography of travelers’ reviews of Makkah and Medina

Purpose This paper aims to examine the structure and content of religious tourism destination image through the reviews of visitors to Makkah and Medina, two of the world’s most popular Muslim pilgrimage sites. Design/methodology/approach This is an exploratory netnographic study of the 913 reviews posted on TripAdvisor from 2018 to 2022. The structure (dimensions and attributes) and content (variables) comprising the construct of religious tourism destination image emerge through manual thematic analysis and confirmed through content analysis. Findings Religious tourism destination image is a three-dimensional – cognitive, affective and conative – construct comprising both religion-specific, generally sacred and secular variables in a single, indivisible crystallization of experience. Practical implications Destination marketing organizations and marketers of tourism enterprises should regularly analyze visitor reviews posted on social media and carefully manage all variables of the religious tourism destination image, specifically stressing the religious aspect. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic analysis of the structure and content of religious tourism destination image based on detailed consumer evaluations and unprompted storytelling.

Fostering Tourism Potentials in Devdaha, Lumbini: Some Critical Remarks

This study uses a quantitative analysis based on a rapid questionnaire survey with 130 respondents from two wards that were purposefully chosen to investigate the dynamics of tourism in Devdaha Municipality, Nepal. The survey looked at a number of topics, such as the kinds of tourists that come to Devdaha, major stakeholders involving on it, how much people know about it as a pilgrimage site, how tourism affects local jobs and revenue. The results show that domestic travelers make up the majority of visitors, and a sizable percentage of respondents acknowledged the locations of Buddhist pilgrimages. Although governmental and non-governmental stakeholders are present, opinions about the professionalism and service qualities are critically observed. The paper also notes the expected advantages of tourism in fostering cross-cultural interchange and bolstering the local economy, while highlighting the major obstacles, such as infrastructure, promotional activities and economic concerns.

Muslim Shia pilgrimage sites in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula

This article outlines the key pilgrimage sites in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan, offering a comprehensive discussion of the history of Shia Islam in this region, with a particular focus on the Republic of Azerbaijan. Each site is examined in terms of its historical development, the figure of devotion associated with it, architectural features, surrounding environment, and religious practices, encompassing both orthodox and heterodox traditions. By integrating personal observations and an analysis of existing literature, this study discusses the main patterns of worship and devotion, providing insights into the broader context of Shia religious practices in Azerbaijan.

Religious tourism

Religiously motivated travel, such as pilgrimages, is one of the oldest forms of tourism. Over the past fifty years, religiously motivated tourism has experienced significant growth. Religious tourism has evolved in diverse contexts and locations, and it is increasingly explored by scholars from various fields. Existing literature on religious tourism suggests a growing diversification of visitors, who are driven by the diminishing significance of traditional religious beliefs in contemporary societies. Scholars have indicated a global decline in engagement with organised religions, possibly attributed to modern scientific knowledge, rational thinking, and secularisation. Consequently, there is a growing trend where individuals travel to religious and pilgrimage sites that hold personal significance or meaning for them. In the post-pandemic context, more attention should be given to the wellness aspects of religious tourism, including the mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits. Religious tourism, especially in developing regions and remote areas, has been viewed as part of economic diversification strategies. To provide pathways for how religious tourism can actually benefit the local community and economy in practice, there is a need for more in-depth research and analysis. More critical research can explore how economic development influences or impacts poverty alleviation, sustainability, accessibility, and environmental impacts. For future research, beyond tourists’ perspectives, more attention on the perspectives of communities and local stakeholders is required. Since Western contexts, conceptualisations, methodologies, and interpretations still dominate the field, it is essential to incorporate holistic perspectives and understandings from a broader body of scholars. Encouraging local scholarship is important to foster more balanced discussions within this field of study. Methodologies should expand and become more creative, moving beyond quantitative studies and incorporating more fieldwork. Scholars need to address practical problems related to religious tourism sites by collaborating with policymakers, tourism operators, local communities, and religious associations.

Pilgrimage Tourism to Wali Tombs and Halal Destination Management Based on Sharia Values

This study explores the relationship between pilgrimage tourism to Wali tombs and halal tourism, focusing on the integration of Sharia values in the management of religious destinations. In the context of East Java, this research examines the application of Sharia principles by site managers to maintain the sanctity and integrity of the sites, as well as its impact on the experience of Muslim tourists. The study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with site managers, tourists, and local communities, along with direct field observations. The findings show that the application of Sharia management in site operations not only enhances tourist satisfaction but also strengthens the local economy and cultural preservation. However, the study also found a lack of understanding of Sharia values among some site managers. This research provides recommendations for site managers to create tourist destinations aligned with Sharia principles, supporting the growth of halal tourism in Indonesia. It is hoped that the results of this study can serve as a reference for developing policies on sustainable and responsible religious tourism.This study has several limitations, including the geographical scope limited to East Java and restricted access to all pilgrimage site managers. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to all religious tourism destinations in Indonesia. Further research covering a broader area is recommended to enrich the findings.

Influence of walkability parameters on people’s mobility in a pilgrimage town: a case study of Nanjungud, India

ABSTRACT Pilgrimage represents a sacred journey to religiously significant places. Recent studies highlight a 35 times increase in travel to pilgrimage sites from 1991 to 2019 in India. This surge in pilgrim numbers underscores the growing need for improved mobility infrastructure to ensure a comfortable environment. The study investigates the relationship between street-level walkability indicators on mobility within a pilgrimage town, Nanjungud in India. Through field surveys, we documented four crucial environmental indicators tailored for Indian conditions: sidewalk availability, green view, aspect ratio, and connectivity. Both vehicle and pedestrian volumes are measured using gate count method at 22 different locations of the study area on weekdays and weekends. SPSS is utilized for analysing the correlation. The findings reveal a statistically significant, albeit moderate, correlation between sidewalk availability and pedestrian volume during day time (0.446). However, pedestrians were observed walking on the streets where the sidewalks are discontinuous. Additionally, there tends to be less of green view in the most populated streets, and a noticeable negative correlation of aspect ratio with sidewalk availability (−0.444). The study highlights the need to prioritize improvements in sidewalk infrastructure and urban shading enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience.

야외박물관으로서의 경주 남산 만들기 : 1950-90년대 지역문화공동체의 유산 실천을 중심으로

This article examines the heritagization process of how the performances and practices of local communities and people in Gyeongju contributed to the creation of Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju as a natural and cultural open-air museum through a historical geographical approach to cultural landscape. During the Park Chung-hee regime, Mt. Namsan was a space organized around selected points and the lines connecting them, i.e., ruins that were considered important in the construction of national history and the roads that connected them. In 1985, the entirety of Mt. Namsan was designated a historic site, which led to the transformation of this point- and line-centered spatial organization into an area-centered one. In addition to the institutional change, the activities of local cultural communities and local people played an important role in the spatial reconfiguration of Mt. Namsan. They were the main actors who carried out and practiced the heritage of Mt. Namsan from the 1950s to the 1990s. Their activities laid the foundation for the transformation of Mt. Namsan into an “open-air museum” that bears the imprint of Silla, a multifaceted and multilayered pilgrimage site where points, lines, and planes intersect.

Epistemic justice as energy justice: reflections from a transnational collaboration on hydropower and Indigenous rights

ABSTRACT Addressing the climate crisis requires renewable energy, however, developing renewable energy should be equitable. In this article, we analyze a 15-year-old transnational hydroelectric power development conflict involving Indigenous rights in Mapuche-Williche territory, Chile and a Norwegian state-owned company, Statkraft. We seek to advance the field of energy justice by evaluating injustices in this transnational conflict. At the heart of the conflict is a threatened Ngen Kintuantü (the spirit guardian Kintuantü), which is part of a ceremonial and pilgrimage site of utmost importance in Williche territory. We argue that epistemic justice – the radical inclusion of different ways of knowing – can be a central tenet to understanding and redressing the harms connected to energy development, especially via networks of solidarity with Indigenous rights claims. Yet currently, the right to consent for energy projects, – which is informed by the international legal mechanism Free, Prior, and Informed Consent and Chile’s codification of a less stringent Indigenous consultation – is limited by its formation within liberal legality. Despite these limitations, the Traditional Organization of the Ayllarewe of Ngen Mapu Kintuantü, an organization of Mapuche-Williche communities, is crafting and demanding their own form of territorial consultation. Drawing from a solidarity network of research across the Global South and North, we find that existing tools like FPIC can and must be strengthened through Indigenous and local guidance, but that justice, in a broader sense, cannot be achieved without returning land and broader legal reforms.

Kontinuita, proměna, zánik nebo obnova poutní tradice v České republice pohledem etnologie

The study deals with the phenomenon of pilgrimages after the year 1989. Except for the traditional pilgrimage festivities associated with the confession of faith, such as in Žarošice in South Moravia, where a pilgrimage ritual with many Baroque relicts is still practised on the so-called Golden Saturday, we can notice the disappearance of pilgrimages. At the same time, the traditional form of pilgrimages is transformed, and we can observe innovative trends after 1989. Pilgrimage tourism is developing significantly, professional and association pilgrimages (e.g. these of firefighters, gamekeepers, beekeepers, and teachers) are being organised, and cycling pilgrimages are becoming popular among all age groups. In contrast to Western Europe, the phenomenon of longdistance pilgrimages, not only to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but also to Mariazell, Roma, Assisi, and the Holy Land, has arrived in the Czech Republic with a certain delay. After the year 2000, pilgrim routes have been replicated and trucked, modern pilgrim routes are being built. Last but not least, we try to answer the question of what role a pilgrimage site, a pilgrimage or a pilgrimage tradition plays in the Czech society of the twenty-first century.

Possessing and being possessed by the past: on the ambivalences of heritage as religious return

ABSTRACT This paper explores the politics of religious patrimony by comparing two cases where the heritagization of religious sites results in feelings of loss and estrangement rather than return and restoration. We show how shrines can function simultaneously as public and civic places of religious assembly but also as material and sensorial expressions of ambivalent forms of belonging and un-belonging – to the past, to a territory, to a religious denomination, to a domestic environment associated with childhood or previous generations. One case is of Greek Cypriots as they travel to a renovated monastery located in territory lost to them in 1974 after the island’s division. Encounters with the monastery are inflected by a broader, uncanny feeling of reentering a landscape that is familiar yet also estranged, studded by former childhood homes and villages now inhabited by others. The other case follows the experiences of Roman Catholics as they engage with the Christian pilgrimage site of Walsingham in the English county of Norfolk. The site now embodies a fractured heritage and pilgrimage space that recalls spiritual, material and cultural loss extending beyond biographical memory into the time of the Protestant Reformation. In both cases, ambiguities of ‘possession’ are provoked by forms of heritage restoration that embody but also obliterate memory in ways deemed to be deeply problematic by some populations. We argue that possession in these terms has economic and legal associations, referring to ownership of places and things, but it also points to situations where people are filled with an abiding and at times obsessive sense of the continuing urgency of the unsettled past.

The Secrets of Christian Others: Hungarian Catholic Intellectuals Debate Ecumenism at a Transylvanian Pilgrimage Site

The Secrets of Christian Others: Hungarian Catholic Intellectuals Debate Ecumenism at a Transylvanian Pilgrimage Site

A Study of the First Ashwamedh Mahayagya in Jaipur, Rajasthan (November 7-10, 1992) Under the Dev Sanskriti Digvijay Campaign of All World Gayatri Pariwar

In the current era, due to the increase in industrialization and energy usage, numerous adverse problems such as air pollution, water pollution, temperature rise, ozone layer depletion, and atmospheric imbalance are visible on a global scale. On the individual and social fronts, we observe a lack of humanity, immorality, depression, anxiety, anger, and other discrepancies. At the root of these adversities are human narrow-mindedness and insensitivity. Therefore, awakening the wisdom of the age and engaging it in new creation appears to be a significant need of the present era. In ancient Indian knowledge tradition and culture, various methods have been described for this purpose - one of the most important being the Ashwamedh Yagya. In this context, the current research paper provides a detailed description of the first Ashwamedh Mahayagya conducted by the Gayatri Pariwar in Jaipur, highlighting its various teachings and understanding their relevance in the present time. To realize the Dev Sanskriti Digvijay campaign initiated by the founder of All World Gayatri Pariwar, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, after his physical departure, the founder of the Gayatri Pariwar, Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma, launched the Dev Sanskriti Digvijay Ashwamedhik campaign following her Himalayan journey. The pre-preparation (Pra-Yaj) for organizing the Ashwamedh Yagya includes the formation of a large number of dedicated practitioners to support and participate in the event, the collection of water and soil from various sanctified pilgrimage sites, and raising awareness about the Yagya and inviting people to it. This was also done for the Ashwamedh Mahayagya in Jaipur. During the organization of the Ashwamedh Yagya (Yaj), various programs were conducted such as Yagya, rituals, discussion forums, etc., in which millions of people participated - thus imparting the knowledge of Dev Sanskriti to the masses. After the organization of the Ashwamedh Yagya (Anuyaj), a systematic plan was made, and the energy generated in this Yagya was channeled for the construction of individuals, society, and the nation. The first Ashwamedh Mahayagya conducted by the Gayatri Pariwar in Jaipur in November 1992 was executed as a powerful means to address various individual and global problems of the present time. Aiming at the emergence of divinity in humans and the reconstruction of the nation, this journey has conducted 47 Ashwamedh Yagyas by 2024.

The pilgrimage (hajj) of Central Asian Muslims before joining to the Russian Empire

This study examines the pilgrimage practices of Central Asian Muslims to Mecca before the region became part of the Russian Empire and shows that despite the importance of the Hajj in Islam, participation from this area was limited. The analysis outlines the various barriers to making the pilgrimage, such as the strict Sharia requirements that many could not meet, the financial and logistical challenges involved, and the fear of the dangers associated with the journey. In addition, social and family obligations prevented a significant number of Muslims from making the Hajj, leading to a preference for local pilgrimage sites in Central Asia as an alternative. The research also examines the socio-political implications of the hajj for Central Asian Muslims, including the different routes taken to reach Mecca and the role of socio-economic status in facilitating or hindering the pilgrimage. Through this examination, the article sheds light on the complex interplay of religion, culture and politics in the practice of hajj among Central Asian Muslims prior to Russian annexation.

Influence of memorable tourism experience on attitude towards pilgrimage: a moderated-mediation model with memorable religious experience and religiosity

PurposeThe study investigates the mediated moderation impact of Memorable Religious Experience (MRE) and Religiosity (REL) on the relationship between Memorable Tourism Experience (MTE) and Attitude towards Pilgrimage (ATT) finally driving Recommend Intention (RCI) of visitors to a religious site. It suggests visitors' incentive variable religiosity can influence their decision to recommend visiting a religious destination.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses a quantitative cross-sectional approach wherein a self-administered survey was used for data collection from 223 pilgrims who visited a popular pilgrimage site. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for analysis.FindingsThe results showed that MTE has a significant influence on ATT which further influences RCI (a dimension of behavioral intention-BI) of visitors towards a religious destination. Further, MRE mediates the relationship between MTE and ATT. Nevertheless, REL illustrated a significant moderation influence on the relationship between MRE and ATT, further verifying the mediated moderation impact of MRE and REL in the model.Practical implicationsRecommendation of existing customers is one of the most powerful indicators of customer loyalty and usually leads to revisit. The research provides destination managers/tourism planners of pilgrimage sites to formulate appropriate marketing strategies to develop RCI and sustainable branding.Originality/valueThis study adds to the empirical studies conducted on REL by constructing a composite picture of the memorable tourism experience within a pilgrimage tourism context. The uniqueness lies in the attempt to investigate the mediated moderation impact of MRE and REL using a symmetric (PLS-SEM) approach.

Ancient Wisdom in Northwest New Mexico

In an expanded version of an op-ed that highlighted a trip I took with a long-time friend, Larry Allums, I reflect on our experience of silence and centering during a visit to Pueblo Bonito, situated in Chaco Canyon in Northwest New Mexico in 2023. The experience for both of us brought us to reflect deeply on our cultural impulses toward distractions and outward actions that leave little or no room for inward pilgrimage to the center of who we are. Centering seems like a lost art of contemplation, of occasionally taking a measure of who we are and what our place in the world invites us to become. At Chaco Canyon, we entered the sacred space of its architecture. The rooms of Pueblo Bonito opened to the sky and to the kivas, underground mandala circles that may have been places of worship, of communal reflections, and rituals. We found in our pilgrimage a silence and deepening for which our daily lives make little space or time. We left the ancient pilgrimage site with a felt sense of the mystery of nature herself and of being embraced by the buildings and the desert as oases for renewal.

Changing Jewish Pilgrimage Sites in the Galilee Region during the Medieval Period

Abstract: Four reasons led to the change of the main Jewish pilgrimage sites in Galilee from ʿAraba and Dalata to Meron during the twelfth century. The Jewish population abandoned ʿAraba and the community of Dalata declined. During the eleventh century, pilgrims from the Diaspora preferred to participate in a central annual event on the Mount of Olives, organized by the Yeshiva of the Land of Israel, which simulated pilgrimage to the temple. During the twelfth century, the Jewish regional center in the Upper Galilee region had shifted from Jish to Safed. Consequently, the main regional pilgrimage shrine changed from Dalata to Meron. The pilgrimage to Meron was a result of the Frankish ban on Jewish presence in Jerusalem and the Frankish takeover of important shrines venerated by Jews outside the Galilee region. Abstract: Four reasons led to the change of the main Jewish pilgrimage sites in Galilee from ʿAraba and Dalata to Meron during the twelfth century. The Jewish population abandoned ʿAraba and the community of Dalata declined. During the eleventh century, pilgrims from the Diaspora preferred to participate in a central annual event on the Mount of Olives, organized by the Yeshiva of the Land of Israel, which simulated pilgrimage to the Temple. During the twelfth century, the Jewish regional center in the Upper Galilee region had shifted from Jish to Safed. Consequently, the main regional pilgrimage shrine changed from Dalata to Meron. The pilgrimage to Meron was a result of the Frankish ban on Jewish presence in Jerusalem and the Frankish takeover of important shrines venerated by Jews outside the Galilee region.

Sanitation and Personal Hygiene Practices in Rural Nepal: A Case Study of Namobuddh Kavre District

Namobuddha is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in Kavre District, Nepal. The main purpose of this study was to understand the sanitation and personal hygiene practices of people of Namobuddha, Nepal. Altogether, 80 samples have been studied through field work methods by using different tools and techniques like scheduled questionnaires interview, focused group discussion, and observation methods. Data analysis was done through MS Excels. Sanitation and personal hygiene practices are the fundamental elements for a healthy life. This research found out that every respondent was practicing basic sanitation and personal hygiene practices. Every resident of the field area is aware about the personal hygiene practices such as washing hands, washing vegetables, eating healthy foods, doing their laundry, taking bath, etc. Also, they were aware about sanitation practices such as proper toilet facility, proper disposal of wastes from kitchen and other sources, healthy drinking water, and cleaning their surroundings. Hence, overall activity of the respondents regarding sanitation and personal hygiene was satisfactory. Further, it was observed that females were more involved in sanitation and personal hygiene practices. They were involved in cooking, disposal of cooking wastages, cleaning the toilets, surrounding, washing clothes, making their children aware about unhealthy habits, etc. So, they have more knowledge on such practices and they know the consequences of unhealthy food habits and unhealthy surroundings. However, they had the problem with disposal of household wastages. Some of the households dispose of their wastes on the river due to lack of a proper disposal system. Thus, we were impressed by their awareness on sanitation and personal hygiene practice.

Development of Pilgrimage Tourism in Slovakia over the Past Decades: Examples of Selected Pilgrimage Sites

Pilgrimage tourism, among the earliest forms of tourism with a tradition spanning centuries, stands as a steadfast global attraction. This article delves into the significance, diversity, and historical roots of this tourism type, recognizing the contemporary surge in interest in pilgrimage sites. Offering an overview of globally prominent pilgrimage destinations and highlighting key locations in Slovakia, the article emphasizes the country’s considerable potential for the utilization and development of these sacred sites, despite its compact size. It stresses the need to foster this historically significant tourism sector and the necessity for attention and support from the government sector to maximize its potential. The relevance of pilgrimage became particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with observable visitor participation despite challenging conditions at various pilgrimage sites. The article examines the pilgrimage’s evolution before, during, and after the pandemic, using Levoča and Šaštín in Slovakia as illustrative cases. One of the main objectives of this study was to clarify the development of pilgrimage tourism in Slovakia over the past decades and the factors influencing it. The attendance analysis unmistakably reveals a significant upward trend at these specific locations, emphasizing the need to establish collaborative efforts to support this sector. Such collaboration is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of historically significant sites, fostering local development, and increasing the visibility of less-visited pilgrimage destinations.

Cultural heritage and urban morphology: land use transformation in ‘Kumbh Mela’ of Prayagraj, India

A Hindu pilgrimage site where millions of people gather to seek solutions to problems related to everyday life, the “Kumbh Mela” is recognised as one of India’s intangible cultural heritages. The site of the observance rotates between four cities, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj. The infrastructure and services in the city that is hosting such a gathering undergo numerous changes as a result of the sizeable gathering. The goal of the study is to monitor the changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) in the city of Prayagraj before and after the “Kumbh Mela” and to evaluate the effect on infrastructure changes in the citry. Analyzing the changes that such pilgrimages and events bring about in cities are fascinating. In 2019, the city of Prayagraj hosted the “Kumbh”, hence, Pre-Kumbh (2016), Kumbh (2019), and Post-Kumbh (2022) phases were taken under consideration for LULC change assessment. Supervised classification was conducted using Maximum Likelihood Classifier to prepare LULC maps. It was observed that urbanisation has significantly increased at the expense of vegetation, fallow land, and agricultural land. The success of the local agroforestry policy and plantation drive is demonstrated by the interesting increase in vegetation that has been observed. The construction of a civil airport, the widening of existing roads, the installation of new railroad tracks, and the adornment of roundabouts on existing roads are the major infrastructure changes. The findings offer fresh insights of increasing urban infrastructure from a cultural perspective. The findings will aid in better planning and policy development for the resilient and sustainable infrastructure, as well as in the development of a long-term strategy for the temporary habitation in the “Kumbh” area of such cities.

BRIDGING HERITAGE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AT BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE SITES IN UTTAR PRADESH AND BIHAR

This empirical research paper undertakes a comparative examination of tourism development at Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar, two Indian states steeped in historical and cultural significance within Buddhism. The study aims to assess and contrast the tourism infrastructure, visitor experiences, and socio-economic impacts of tourism development across selected Buddhist pilgrimage sites in both regions. Employing a mixed-methods approach comprising surveys, interviews, and site observations, this research offers a comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges associated with tourism development in UP and Bihar. By identifying noteworthy practices and areas necessitating improvement, the paper furnishes practical recommendations aimed at fostering the sustainable advancement of Buddhist pilgrimage tourism in both states. Buddhist pilgrimage sites in UP and Bihar attract pilgrims and tourists from diverse cultural backgrounds, seeking spiritual enlightenment and historical insight. However, disparities in tourism infrastructure, accessibility, and visitor amenities may significantly influence the quality of experiences and economic outcomes for local communities. By examining these factors through a comparative lens, this study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the underlying dynamics driving tourism development in UP and Bihar.