Cultural tourism or religious tourism: an analysis through the land of Ignatious
Location
1B - Motivation and Experience
Start Date
29-6-2017 11:30 AM
End Date
29-6-2017 1:00 PM
Description
Mobilities to religious places and sights have been present along history, but the link between tourism motivated to visit cultural and religious heritage is blurring. A deep debate regarding their respective natures and interests becomes increasingly necessary, and it is a recurrent perspective in this discipline. This study analyses the links between sacred and religious mobilities, focusing in the tourism mobilities in the Urola valey of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain), where the land of Ignatious is. We apply a quantitative methodology approach based in two parts: first, public statistics on tourism in the Basque country and Gipuzkoa are analysed; and second, data from the Loiola tourism office, the main office in the land of Ignatious and from the main cultural and religious sise and products are analysed. Results show that religious heritage and mainly the heritage related to Ignatious of Loiola are the main tractive force for tourist visiting the inland Gipuzkoa, with more than the 30 thousand people travelling to the valley every year.
Cultural tourism or religious tourism: an analysis through the land of Ignatious
1B - Motivation and Experience
Mobilities to religious places and sights have been present along history, but the link between tourism motivated to visit cultural and religious heritage is blurring. A deep debate regarding their respective natures and interests becomes increasingly necessary, and it is a recurrent perspective in this discipline. This study analyses the links between sacred and religious mobilities, focusing in the tourism mobilities in the Urola valey of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain), where the land of Ignatious is. We apply a quantitative methodology approach based in two parts: first, public statistics on tourism in the Basque country and Gipuzkoa are analysed; and second, data from the Loiola tourism office, the main office in the land of Ignatious and from the main cultural and religious sise and products are analysed. Results show that religious heritage and mainly the heritage related to Ignatious of Loiola are the main tractive force for tourist visiting the inland Gipuzkoa, with more than the 30 thousand people travelling to the valley every year.