Location
Monserrat
Start Date
26-6-2026 12:30 PM
End Date
26-6-2026 2:00 PM
Description
This study examines the role of pilgrimage tourism for supporting post conflict tourism recovery in Tigray, Ethiopia, with particular focus on the pilgrimage site of Saint Mary Axum Zion in the historic city of Axum. The region possesses rich religious and cultural heritage that has historically attracted large number of pilgrims and visitors.
The need for this study arises from the devastating Tigray war (2020–2023), which resulted the destruction of religious sites, looting of artifacts, collapse of tourism services and loss of livelihoods connected to the sector. However, despite these challenges several pilgrimage destinations have continued as important point of attraction. Among these Saint Mary Axum Zion pilgrimage remains important. This site had played a leading role in the gradual reopening of Tigray region for visitors after two years of war and siege. In the successive post war years, the pilgrimage celebration of Saint Mary Axum Zion demonstrated the potential of pilgrimage tourism as strategic entry point for tourism recovery in the region.
However, most studies have focused primarily on the historical significance of Axum and scholarly attention to pilgrimage remains limited. Its role for post-conflict tourism recovery also remains under examined. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by examining the role of pilgrimage tourism in supporting tourism recovery and community livelihoods in war affected historic city of Axum.
This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative techniques including empirical data collection and analytical fieldwork. This study provides evidence-based recommendations for policy makers and tourism stakeholders. The findings demonstrated that pilgrimage tourism in post conflict Axum has foster tourism recovery and improved local livelihoods and served as catalyst to revive other economic sectors of the region.
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Included in
I2) Unlocking the Potential of Pilgrimage tourism for Post War Tourism Recovery: Evidence from Tigray, Ethiopia
Monserrat
This study examines the role of pilgrimage tourism for supporting post conflict tourism recovery in Tigray, Ethiopia, with particular focus on the pilgrimage site of Saint Mary Axum Zion in the historic city of Axum. The region possesses rich religious and cultural heritage that has historically attracted large number of pilgrims and visitors.
The need for this study arises from the devastating Tigray war (2020–2023), which resulted the destruction of religious sites, looting of artifacts, collapse of tourism services and loss of livelihoods connected to the sector. However, despite these challenges several pilgrimage destinations have continued as important point of attraction. Among these Saint Mary Axum Zion pilgrimage remains important. This site had played a leading role in the gradual reopening of Tigray region for visitors after two years of war and siege. In the successive post war years, the pilgrimage celebration of Saint Mary Axum Zion demonstrated the potential of pilgrimage tourism as strategic entry point for tourism recovery in the region.
However, most studies have focused primarily on the historical significance of Axum and scholarly attention to pilgrimage remains limited. Its role for post-conflict tourism recovery also remains under examined. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by examining the role of pilgrimage tourism in supporting tourism recovery and community livelihoods in war affected historic city of Axum.
This study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative techniques including empirical data collection and analytical fieldwork. This study provides evidence-based recommendations for policy makers and tourism stakeholders. The findings demonstrated that pilgrimage tourism in post conflict Axum has foster tourism recovery and improved local livelihoods and served as catalyst to revive other economic sectors of the region.