Description
Book SynopsisThe remarkable growth in religious tourism across the world has generated considerable interest in the impacts of this type of tourism. Focusing here on environmental issues, this book moves beyond the documentation of environmental impacts to examine in greater depth the intersections between religious tourism and the environment. Beginning with an in-depth introduction that highlights the intersections between religion, tourism, and the environment, the book then focuses on the environment as a resource or generator for religious tourism and as a recipient of the impacts of religious tourism. Chapters included discuss such important areas as theological views, environmental responsibility, and host perspectives. Covering as many cultural and environmental regions as possible, this book provides: -An in-depth yet holistic view of the relationships between religious tourism and the environment; -A conceptual framework that goes beyond listing potential environment impacts; -A strong focus on explaining the universality of the deeper environmental issues surrounding sacredness and sacred places; -A discussion of the role of disease and health-related issues at mass religious gatherings. From a global writing team and featuring case studies spanning Europe and Asia, this book will be of great interest to researchers and students of tourism and religious studies, as well as those studying environmental issues.
Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Environmental Impacts of Religious Tourism Chapter 2: Pilgrimage, Religious Tourism, Biodiversity, and Natural Sacred Sites Chapter 3: Managing the Environment in Religious Tourism Destinations: A Conceptual Model Chapter 4: Human Sanctuaries Can Be Created Everywhere: Pilgrimage, Tourism, and Conservation in Vrindavan, India Chapter 5: The Beyul: Sherpa Perspectives on Landscapes Characteristics and Tourism Development in Khumbu (Everest), Nepal Chapter 6: Religious Tourism and Environmental Conservation in Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha, World Heritage Site, Nepal Chapter 7: Interreligious Dialogue: Trees, Stones, Water, and Interfaith Ritual Experiences in Lebanon Chapter 8: Mimicking Mountains: Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and the Mountain of Montserrat Chapter 9: Disease and Health-Related Issues at Mass Religious Gatherings Chapter 10: The Natural Environment and Waste Management at the Hajj Chapter 11: The Effects of Natural Disasters on Religious Tourism Sites: Earthquakes in the Spiritual Heart of Italy Chapter 12: Religion, the Environment, and Sacred Places: Lessons Learned and Future Directions
