Location
Monserrat
Start Date
26-6-2026 3:30 PM
End Date
26-6-2026 5:00 PM
Description
This study critically analyses ways of managing religious sensitivities in the contemporary tourism environment, focusing on the dynamic intersections between religious-cultural heritage, spirituality, and the visitor experience. Recognizing the diversity of tourist motivations—which range from traditional pilgrimage to purely cultural, historical, or educational pursuits—the study argues for the need for flexible models of governance. These models must strike a delicate balance between the accessibility of sacred sites and the necessary respect for their sanctity.
Through a thorough review of the interventions of international organizations (such as UNESCO, UNWTO, and ICCROM) and the analysis of good practice studies from various continents, the research identifies models based on co-management, local community participation, and the implementation of educational actions. These strategies prove crucial in enhancing mutual understanding between visitors, locals, and host entities, thereby mitigating potential conflicts and enhancing the authenticity of the experience.
In conclusion, the study argues that the full integration of spiritual and cultural sensitivity into tourism development policies is not only a moral obligation but also a prerequisite for the sustainability of destinations. It proposes the development of a "spiritual sustainability" standard based on respect, reciprocity, and education, effectively recognizing and integrating the intangible dimensions of cultural heritage into tourism practice.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Included in
K1) Negotiating the Sacred: Religious Sensitivities within Contemporary Tourism Practices
Monserrat
This study critically analyses ways of managing religious sensitivities in the contemporary tourism environment, focusing on the dynamic intersections between religious-cultural heritage, spirituality, and the visitor experience. Recognizing the diversity of tourist motivations—which range from traditional pilgrimage to purely cultural, historical, or educational pursuits—the study argues for the need for flexible models of governance. These models must strike a delicate balance between the accessibility of sacred sites and the necessary respect for their sanctity.
Through a thorough review of the interventions of international organizations (such as UNESCO, UNWTO, and ICCROM) and the analysis of good practice studies from various continents, the research identifies models based on co-management, local community participation, and the implementation of educational actions. These strategies prove crucial in enhancing mutual understanding between visitors, locals, and host entities, thereby mitigating potential conflicts and enhancing the authenticity of the experience.
In conclusion, the study argues that the full integration of spiritual and cultural sensitivity into tourism development policies is not only a moral obligation but also a prerequisite for the sustainability of destinations. It proposes the development of a "spiritual sustainability" standard based on respect, reciprocity, and education, effectively recognizing and integrating the intangible dimensions of cultural heritage into tourism practice.