The complexities of religious tourism motivations: sacred places, vows and visions

Article


Terzidou, M., Scarles, C. and Saunders, M. 2018. The complexities of religious tourism motivations: sacred places, vows and visions. Annals of Tourism Research. 70, pp. 54-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.02.011
TypeArticle
TitleThe complexities of religious tourism motivations: sacred places, vows and visions
AuthorsTerzidou, M., Scarles, C. and Saunders, M.
Abstract

The aim of this paper is to understand the complexity of travel motivations to sacred places. Using ethnographic techniques within the Greek Orthodox context, we argue that while motivations are institutionally constructed, they are fragile, dynamic and progressive; being embedded within everyday performances of religion. This calls into question the fixed centeredness and predetermined sacredness of religious sites. Travel motivations become directly influenced by believers’ intimate and emergent performances not only of places but also of religion itself; the meaning of places being based on lived experiences of doing religion and interacting with the sacred, as exemplified in vows and visions. Such understandings are crucial in predicting the effects of failing pilgrimages and the processes of authentication of places, which can help explain visitation patterns.

KeywordsReligious tourism; Motivation; Performance; Vows
PublisherElsevier
JournalAnnals of Tourism Research
ISSN0160-7383
Electronic1873-7722
Publication dates
Online14 Mar 2018
Print01 May 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited20 Mar 2018
Accepted28 Feb 2018
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© 2018. This author's accepted manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.02.011
Web of Science identifierWOS:000435747100005
LanguageEnglish
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/87911

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
Accepted Manuscript.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 57
    total views
  • 209
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 3
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Why individuals do not visit a destination? The role of familiarity and novelty seeking in shaping non-visitors’ destination image
Stylidis, D. and Terzidou, M. 2024. Why individuals do not visit a destination? The role of familiarity and novelty seeking in shaping non-visitors’ destination image. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875241284619
Exploring how perceived tourism impacts evolve over time (2009-2019) in an era of uncertainty: economic crisis, host-guest interactions, and Airbnb
Stylidis, D. and Terzidou, M. 2023. Exploring how perceived tourism impacts evolve over time (2009-2019) in an era of uncertainty: economic crisis, host-guest interactions, and Airbnb. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 31 (2), pp. 615-638. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1939707
Re-materialising the religious tourism experience: a post-human perspective
Terzidou, M. 2020. Re-materialising the religious tourism experience: a post-human perspective. Annals of Tourism Research. 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102924
The role of visual media in religious tourists' destination image, choice, and on-site experience: the case of Tinos, Greece
Terzidou, M., Stylidis, D. and Terzidis, K. 2018. The role of visual media in religious tourists' destination image, choice, and on-site experience: the case of Tinos, Greece. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing. 35 (3), pp. 306-319. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2017.1304316
Editorial [introduction: Sustainable Place Marketing]
Stylidis, D. and Terzidou, M. 2017. Editorial [introduction: Sustainable Place Marketing]. International Journal of Tourism Policy. 7 (3), pp. 173-176.
Islands and destination image: the case of Ios
Stylidis, D., Terzidou, M. and Terzidis, K. 2008. Islands and destination image: the case of Ios. Tourismos: an international multidisciplinary refereed journal of tourism. 3 (1), pp. 180-189.
Religiousness as tourist performances: a case study of Greek Orthodox pilgrimage
Terzidou, M., Scarles, C. and Saunders, M. 2017. Religiousness as tourist performances: a case study of Greek Orthodox pilgrimage. Annals of Tourism Research. 66, pp. 116-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2017.06.009
Residents' perceptions of religious tourism and its socio-economic impacts on the island of Tinos
Terzidou, M., Stylidis, D. and Szivas, E. 2008. Residents' perceptions of religious tourism and its socio-economic impacts on the island of Tinos. Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development. 5 (2), pp. 113-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790530802252784
Tourism and the economic crisis in Kavala, Greece
Stylidis, D. and Terzidou, M. 2014. Tourism and the economic crisis in Kavala, Greece. Annals of Tourism Research. 44, pp. 210-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2013.10.004