SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS TOURISM

This book reviews tourist motivations for making religious or spiritual journeys, and the management aspects related to them. It explores sacred journeys across both traditional religions such as Christianity and Islam, and newer forms of pilgrimage, faith systems and quasi-religious activities such as sport, music and food. Demonstrating to the reader the intrinsic elements and events that play a crucial role within the destination management process, it provides a timely re-assessment of the increasing interconnections between religion and spirituality as a motivation for travel. The book:- Includes applications, models and illustrations of religious tourism and pilgrimage management for converting theory into good practice;- Addresses theories of motivation and why travel to religious destinations has increased;- Explores key learning points from a selection of international case study perspectives.Providing researchers and students of tourism, religious studies, anthropology and related subjects with an important review of the topic, this book aims to bridge the ever-widening gap between specialists within the religious, tourism, management and education sectors.

With over 25 years' experience in events delivery, in public and private sectors, since 2007, Ruth has taught events management. Her PhD study is on the role of events in church culture. As an events practitioner, Ruth developed considerable leadership expertise and has over 25 years' experience in events delivery in the UK, in both public and private sectors, having managed thousands of events, including 11 years managing a venue. In 2007, Ruth moved into teaching events management at the UK Centre for Events Management, and became a level leader, with pastoral responsibility for Level 5 and later for final year students. She led the successful development and delivery of the online Masters Course in Events Management in 2008, as well as being Course Leader 2009-2011 of the BA (Hons) Conference & Exhibition Management, Course Leader of the BA (Hons) Events Management, and HND Events Management 2011-2014. Ruth is a priest in the Church of England, and her PhD studies focus on the role of events in church culture.

M. Jabar Yaqub is a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. His MSc thesis, undertaken at Sheffield Hallam University, investigated motivations of pilgrims that attended the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. He has extensive personal experience in travelling to sacred sites, including Makkah and Medina to conduct the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, and also several other sites in the Middle East. His academic qualifications are in international events management. His research interests are in mega and major events, religious tourism and religious events.

Dr Razaq Raj is Principal Lecturer in the Leeds Business School. His research interests include community events, outdoor events, economic impacts, religious tourism, cultural festivals and sustainable tourism, cultural diversity in events management and international tourism. Dr Razaq Raj is the author of the textbooks Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Management: An International Perspective, Event Management: An integrated and practical approach and Event Management and Sustainability. Dr Razaq Raj is also a board member of international journals and academic associations. Editor of International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Editor of International Journal of Islands Research Editor of International Journal of Islamic TourismSeries Editor, CABI Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Book Series