Location
Palermo
Start Date
27-6-2025 9:30 AM
End Date
27-6-2025 11:00 AM
Description
New technologies play a crucial role in sharing knowledge about religious heritage with tourists and local communities, particularly in geographically marginal areas. Digital tools can be employed in two main ways to enhance sensory experiences at a destination: (1) by actively stimulating one or more senses through technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), haptic devices; and (2) by organizing and disseminating information about available sensory experiences using applications, virtual guides, and interactive maps. Digital innovations not only facilitate access to information and knowledge about heritage but also introduce new experiential dimensions. From a supply-side perspective, they help overcome organizational and infrastructural limitations, making heritage sites more accessible and engaging.
Religious heritage is deeply intertwined with cultural identity, and visits to artistic or cultural sites linked to religious practices can serve as mediators of spiritual experiences. This study investigates how digital technologies can support and enhance a holistic and sustainable experience of religious heritage by engaging five senses. To explore this, we focus on the pilgrimage route to the Black Madonna of Tindari, in Sicily (Italy), analysing its territorial characteristics, current implementation status, and potential for development through digital solutions. Sicily’s inland areas, characterized by a predominantly rural vocation, are likely to maintain this identity despite ongoing integration with sectors such as religious tourism. In addition, the study examines territorial development strategies based on the interconnection between places, heritage, and culture, aiming to highlight sustainable religious tourism practices that respect local communities while fostering new opportunities. The study also emphasizes the role of GIS and GPS technologies in mapping key parameters and creating thematic maps to inform policy recommendations. The findings propose digital solutions that either enhance one or more sensory dimensions and contribute to a more immersive and holistic religious tourism experience.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/a4hy-pq74
Included in
G2) Religious Tourism Experiences, Heritage and Digitalization: An Italian Case Study
Palermo
New technologies play a crucial role in sharing knowledge about religious heritage with tourists and local communities, particularly in geographically marginal areas. Digital tools can be employed in two main ways to enhance sensory experiences at a destination: (1) by actively stimulating one or more senses through technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), haptic devices; and (2) by organizing and disseminating information about available sensory experiences using applications, virtual guides, and interactive maps. Digital innovations not only facilitate access to information and knowledge about heritage but also introduce new experiential dimensions. From a supply-side perspective, they help overcome organizational and infrastructural limitations, making heritage sites more accessible and engaging.
Religious heritage is deeply intertwined with cultural identity, and visits to artistic or cultural sites linked to religious practices can serve as mediators of spiritual experiences. This study investigates how digital technologies can support and enhance a holistic and sustainable experience of religious heritage by engaging five senses. To explore this, we focus on the pilgrimage route to the Black Madonna of Tindari, in Sicily (Italy), analysing its territorial characteristics, current implementation status, and potential for development through digital solutions. Sicily’s inland areas, characterized by a predominantly rural vocation, are likely to maintain this identity despite ongoing integration with sectors such as religious tourism. In addition, the study examines territorial development strategies based on the interconnection between places, heritage, and culture, aiming to highlight sustainable religious tourism practices that respect local communities while fostering new opportunities. The study also emphasizes the role of GIS and GPS technologies in mapping key parameters and creating thematic maps to inform policy recommendations. The findings propose digital solutions that either enhance one or more sensory dimensions and contribute to a more immersive and holistic religious tourism experience.