Visitors with their ‘Backs to the archaeology’: religious tourism and archaeology

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the crossover between religious tourism and archaeology. It begins with a clarification of what religious tourism is and continues to consider the link between archaeological sites, religious heritage and religious tourism. It then moves on to a supply-focused typology of sites and a typology of visitors according to their characteristics. It also discusses the primary conflicts existing today between archaeology and religious tourism. In light of this discussion, it concludes with thoughts on possible future research needs. The paper conceptualized the multiple relationships between religious tourism and religious archaeology. Archaeological remains that also serve as attractions for religious tourism appear to have unique characteristics, the understanding of which is important for long-term planning and development that will take into consideration archaeological, religious, political, and tourism needs. A better understanding of these contexts may also ultimately contribute to our understanding of the development versus conservation arguments facing archaeological areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Religious tourism
• archaeology
• Israel
• religious archaeology
• conflicts

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Noga Collins-Kreiner is a Professor (PhD), in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel and the President of the Israeli Geographical Association (IGA). Her main research interests are: Religious Tourism, Pilgrimage, Heritage Tourism, Hiking and Tourism Development and Management. She is an associate editor of the ‘Annals of Tourism Research’ and published many papers on the topics of tourism.

Nirit Koren-Lawrence is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel. She has worked for many years at the Israel Antiquities Authority, for the department of education and community and holds an M.A. in archaeology. She is currently working with the ‘Shdemot Center for Community Leadership’ at Oranim College, Israel, as a community building specialist.