PILGRIMAGE ROUTES: IMPACTS ON RELIGIOUS, RECREATIONAL TOURISM AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Since ancient and memorable times, pilgrimage has always played a significant role in human interactions with space and the sacred. Initially driven by religious reasons, these trips have undergone transformations over time, incorporating cultural and recreational aspects. Contemporary pilgrimage goes beyond devotion and belief, also involving wellness tourism, immersion in the local culture, and the search for enriching experiences (ALVARADO-SIZZO & MÍNGUEZ, 2023; ØIAN, 2020 ).

Tourist pilgrimage is a form of religious tourism that involves visiting holy places and performing rituals in many cases, but it can also be motivated by other reasons, such as escaping the routine or seeking varied spiritual experiences. Research by Petrikovicova and colleagues (2024) points out that modern pilgrims combine devotion with cultural and recreational interests differently from medieval pilgrims.