Location
Monserrat
Start Date
25-6-2026 3:30 PM
End Date
25-6-2026 4:30 PM
Description
The designation of 2038 as Saint Stephen Memorial Year in Székesfehérvár, Hungary presents an unparalleled opportunity to leverage the legacy of Hungary’s first king, Saint Stephen I, as a catalyst for sustainable religious and heritage tourism development. Székesfehérvár, historically a coronation and burial site of Hungarian monarchs, possesses rich material and immaterial cultural assets linked to Saint Stephen that remain underutilized within contemporary tourism narratives. This study investigates the current role of Saint Stephen’s heritage in the city’s tourism profile, identifies key challenges in planning a landmark memorial year, and examines the cooperative networks essential for delivering a cohesive, impactful event that aligns with both local community interests and international pilgrimage dynamics.
A mixed-methods approach is employed. First, a content analysis of tourism strategic documents, visitor surveys, and promotional materials assesses how Saint Stephen heritage is currently interpreted and marketed. Second, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (including local authorities, heritage managers, tourism operators, religious communities, and civil society representatives) reveal perceptions of strengths, limitations, and expectations surrounding the 2038 Memorial Year. Third, a social network analysis (SNA) maps existing and potential institutional linkages, highlighting structural patterns of collaboration and gaps that could hinder integrated event planning and outreach.
Preliminary findings suggest that while Saint Stephen’s heritage is an asset with strong symbolic resonance, its current contribution to tourism flows is modest due to fragmented storytelling, infrastructural bottlenecks, and limited stakeholder alignment. Network mapping underscores the need for inclusive governance frameworks that connect municipal bodies, ecclesiastical institutions, cultural organizations, the local DMO and the national tourism authority.
The paper concludes with recommendations for strategic planning that includes heritage interpretation and multi-level partnerships and situates Székesfehérvár’s 2038 Memorial Year within broader pilgrimage and cultural tourism circuits.
Creative Commons License
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Included in
F3) Religious Heritage at the Crossroads: Planning the 2038 Saint Stephen Memorial Year in Székesfehérvár, Hungary
Monserrat
The designation of 2038 as Saint Stephen Memorial Year in Székesfehérvár, Hungary presents an unparalleled opportunity to leverage the legacy of Hungary’s first king, Saint Stephen I, as a catalyst for sustainable religious and heritage tourism development. Székesfehérvár, historically a coronation and burial site of Hungarian monarchs, possesses rich material and immaterial cultural assets linked to Saint Stephen that remain underutilized within contemporary tourism narratives. This study investigates the current role of Saint Stephen’s heritage in the city’s tourism profile, identifies key challenges in planning a landmark memorial year, and examines the cooperative networks essential for delivering a cohesive, impactful event that aligns with both local community interests and international pilgrimage dynamics.
A mixed-methods approach is employed. First, a content analysis of tourism strategic documents, visitor surveys, and promotional materials assesses how Saint Stephen heritage is currently interpreted and marketed. Second, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (including local authorities, heritage managers, tourism operators, religious communities, and civil society representatives) reveal perceptions of strengths, limitations, and expectations surrounding the 2038 Memorial Year. Third, a social network analysis (SNA) maps existing and potential institutional linkages, highlighting structural patterns of collaboration and gaps that could hinder integrated event planning and outreach.
Preliminary findings suggest that while Saint Stephen’s heritage is an asset with strong symbolic resonance, its current contribution to tourism flows is modest due to fragmented storytelling, infrastructural bottlenecks, and limited stakeholder alignment. Network mapping underscores the need for inclusive governance frameworks that connect municipal bodies, ecclesiastical institutions, cultural organizations, the local DMO and the national tourism authority.
The paper concludes with recommendations for strategic planning that includes heritage interpretation and multi-level partnerships and situates Székesfehérvár’s 2038 Memorial Year within broader pilgrimage and cultural tourism circuits.