For millennia people have travelled to religious sites for worship, initiatory and leisure purposes. Today there are hundreds, if not thousands, of religious pilgrimage routes and trails around the world that are used by pilgrims as well as tourists. Indeed, many religious pilgrimage routes and trails are today used as themes by tourism marketers in an effort to promote regional economic development. Providing a holistic approach to religious pilgrimage routes and trails, this book: - Addresses important conceptual themes such as sustainable local development, regional economic development, heritage identity and management, and promoting environmentally friendly practices; - Includes global case studies to help transfer theory into good practice; - Calls for further discussion of the importance of better planning, management, and maintenance of these routes and trails, so that the positive benefits of this type of tourism development can be fully realized. An important resource for those interested in religious tourism and pilgrimage, this book is also an invaluable collection for academics and policy-makers within heritage tourism and regional development.
Part I: Tourism and Pilgrimage: Theories and Methods 1: Pilgrimage Trails and Routes: The Journey from the Past to the Present 2: Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails as Driving Forces for Sustainable Local Development 3: Cultural Routes: Tourist Destinations and Tools for Development 4: The Role of Heritage Tourism in the Management and Promotion of Pilgrimage Trails and Routes 5: Environment and Sustainability as Related to Religious Pilgrimage Routes and Trails Part II: Regional Case Studies 6: The European Cultural Route of Saint Martin of Tours 7: The Camino de Santiago de Compostela: The Most Important Historic Pilgrimage Way in Europe 8: The Holy Grail Route: Mystic Routes and Activities to Improve Local Tourism 9: Religious Pilgrimage Routes in the Baltic Countries: History and Perspectives 10: Experiencing Religious Pilgrimage in Malta 11: Pilgrimage Routes from Central Europe and Scandinavia towards Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela 12: The Ways to Jerusalem: Maritime, Cultural and Pilgrimage Routes 13: Palkhi: A Moving Sacred Town 14: Kashi and Cosmos, India: The Pilgrimage Circuit of the Panchakroshi Yatra 15: Pilgrimage to Mount Bromo, Indonesia 16: The Shikoku Pilgrimage: Popularity and the Pilgrim's Transaction 17: Challenges Facing the Sustainable Development of Slave Trade Routes and Trails in Cameroon 18: The Talpa de Allende Pilgrimage Trail 19: Pilgrimage and Identity along the Mormon Trail Part III: Conclusion 20: Pilgrimage Trails and Routes: Journeys from the Present to the Future 21: Discussion Points
