Abstract

Scholars and policy-makers agree that religious tourism is a vital force that not only reinvigorates local economies but is also one of the leading subsegments of tourism worldwide (Cochrane 2007; Olsen & Timothy 2006). The growth of religious tourism has coincided with the interests of researchers who are studying these complex matters. Religion and tourism are inextricably intertwined (Stausberg 2011; Vukonić 2002). As Olsen and Timothy (2006) note, even if religious tourism has not traditionally been seen as a phenomenon associated with economic development, today the segment has reached unparalleled levels of spending and economic growth for host destinations. In fact, much of the increasing academic interest in religious tourism has been driven by its economic potential.