Location
Monserrat
Start Date
26-6-2026 9:30 AM
End Date
26-6-2026 11:00 AM
Description
This paper examines the evolving intersection between societal development and sacred mobility, focusing on how emerging technologies, as well as cultural and environmental changes, are reshaping religious and spiritual travel in the 21st century. As societal transformations become increasingly embedded in cultural, religious, and touristic practices, it is essential to understand how these changes are transforming the ways individuals plan, experience, and interpret pilgrimages and other forms of religious mobility. The paper begins with foundational concepts of religious travel and valuistic journeys, situating contemporary developments within broader theoretical frameworks of faith, mobility, and meaning-making.
Building on this foundation, the paper explores advanced themes such as AI-driven itinerary design, robotic assistance in pilgrimage contexts, immersive virtual pilgrimages, and smart technologies for site management and visitor engagement. Particular attention is given to how these innovations influence perceptions of spiritual authenticity, accessibility, and community participation. Societal transformations—including processes of secularization and religious revival—are examined as critical forces shaping the future of pilgrimage practices. Sacred cities and pilgrimage routes serve as illustrative cases of how environmental pressures, technological change, and intercultural communication dynamics are redefining visitor experiences and institutional strategies.
The future of pilgrimage is presented as contingent upon the evolving role of religion in society, the trajectory of technological innovation, and the capacity to respond to environmental challenges. The paper critically assesses both the opportunities and limitations of AI in religious tourism, emphasizing the need to preserve authenticity, promote sustainability, and ensure inclusivity. The study highlights the complex relationship between technology, faith, and mobility. It underscores the pivotal role of local communities, religious institutions, businesses, and other stakeholders in shaping adaptive and value-oriented models of spiritual travel in a rapidly changing world.
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Included in
G1) Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage in a Global Future World
Monserrat
This paper examines the evolving intersection between societal development and sacred mobility, focusing on how emerging technologies, as well as cultural and environmental changes, are reshaping religious and spiritual travel in the 21st century. As societal transformations become increasingly embedded in cultural, religious, and touristic practices, it is essential to understand how these changes are transforming the ways individuals plan, experience, and interpret pilgrimages and other forms of religious mobility. The paper begins with foundational concepts of religious travel and valuistic journeys, situating contemporary developments within broader theoretical frameworks of faith, mobility, and meaning-making.
Building on this foundation, the paper explores advanced themes such as AI-driven itinerary design, robotic assistance in pilgrimage contexts, immersive virtual pilgrimages, and smart technologies for site management and visitor engagement. Particular attention is given to how these innovations influence perceptions of spiritual authenticity, accessibility, and community participation. Societal transformations—including processes of secularization and religious revival—are examined as critical forces shaping the future of pilgrimage practices. Sacred cities and pilgrimage routes serve as illustrative cases of how environmental pressures, technological change, and intercultural communication dynamics are redefining visitor experiences and institutional strategies.
The future of pilgrimage is presented as contingent upon the evolving role of religion in society, the trajectory of technological innovation, and the capacity to respond to environmental challenges. The paper critically assesses both the opportunities and limitations of AI in religious tourism, emphasizing the need to preserve authenticity, promote sustainability, and ensure inclusivity. The study highlights the complex relationship between technology, faith, and mobility. It underscores the pivotal role of local communities, religious institutions, businesses, and other stakeholders in shaping adaptive and value-oriented models of spiritual travel in a rapidly changing world.