Pilgrimage Events and Economics, Planning and Community Resilience

The book explores pilgrimage events and annual mass gatherings such as the Maha Kumbh Fair, Hajj, Lourdes, and Kartarpur, conceptualising pilgrimage tourism; its growing significance; social, cultural, and economic benefits; environmental impact; and sustainable development.

It offers valuable insights by capturing mythology underlying the mass pilgrimage, crowd dynamics, supply chain logistics, and environmental and community resilience and fostering local entrepreneurship development and stakeholders’ public–private partnerships (PPPs). Drawing on theoretical perspectives, empirical research, and real-world case studies, the book offers prospects of planning, managing, and implementing public health concerns, supply chain, and resilience of the businesses and the local community to hold annual mega spiritual gatherings for the pilgrims. In doing so, it also promotes a shared vision for enhancing connectivity, commerce, trade, and collaboration for peace, progress, and prosperity for social, cultural, and economic impact for the continuation of such centuries-old spiritual pilgrimage events for generations.

The book is intended for academics, tourism researchers, economists, and students studying pilgrimage and religious tourism (RT). It will also be valuable for government departments, international organisations, and practitioners including religious organisations, tour operators, hospitality providers, and event management stakeholders.

Surabhi Srivastava is a senior researcher (ICSSR Fellow, Ministry of Education, New Delhi), affiliated with the University of Kota, Rajasthan, India. With 24 years as an educator, postdoctoral fellow, author, and editor of 12 books under national and international publications, she is proficient at delving into the prospects for heritage tourism and award-winning alternative tourism strategies.

Anita Medhekar is a senior lecturer in economics and affiliated with Central Queensland University (CQU), Rockhampton, Australia, with 35 years of teaching, curriculum development, and research and experience. She has received numerous best research paper awards. Her research interests are in international trade, tourism and health economics, Asia, Australia, and South Asian economic development and growth. Anita has numerous refereed publications in journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters, with eight edited books with international publishers.