This book examines both specific issues and more general problems stemming from the interaction of religion, travel and tourism with hospitality and culture, as well as the implications for site management and interpretation. It explores the oldest form of religious tourism – pilgrimage – from its original form to the multiple spiritual and secular variations practised today, along with issues and conflicts arising from the collision of religion, politics and tourism. The volume considers the impact of tourism and tourist numbers on religious features, communities and phenomena, including the deliberate involvement of some religious agencies in tourism. It also addresses the ways in which religious beliefs and philosophies affect the behaviour and perceptions of tourists as well as hosts. The book illustrates how different faiths interact with tourism and the issues of catering for religious tourists of the major faiths, as well as managing the interaction between increasing numbers of secular tourists and pilgrims at religious sites.

Richard Butler is Emeritus Professor of Tourism, University of Strathclyde, Scotland and Visiting Professor, NHTV University, The Netherlands. His research interests include tourism destination development, tourism in remote and insular areas, resilience and sustainability in tourism and tourism and politics.

Wantanee Suntikul is Assistant Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Her research interests include heritage and tourism, politics and tourism, gastrodiplomacy and tourism and religion and tourism.