Technology and Religious Tourism: Emerging Trends, Cases and Futuristic Perspectives

by Pankaj Kumar Tyagi (Editor), Neha Sharma (Editor), Pramendra Singh (Editor), Vaibhav Bhatt (Editor)

Overview

Religious tourism is a phenomenon dating back thousands of years, that engages people from all walks of life, from across the entire globe. It is an inseparable part of many human lives. Pilgrimage and spiritual tourism are often considered an essential part of the religion itself. The contemporary environment, especially owing to the large-scale use of technology, has greatly changed the pattern and process of religious tourism. Be it pilgrim management, ticket generation, the safety and security of pilgrims and premises, facilitating movement, maintaining the religious centre, controlling access, educating the pilgrims, providing religious souvenirs - are all quickly and efficiently managed by technology. Technology has made it possible to smoothen the visit to religious tourism destinations, make it accessible to everyone, and even enhance the religious experience.

Technology and Religious Tourism: Emerging Trends, Cases and Futuristic Perspectives covers the application, adaptability and implications of technology in religious tourism. Authors from different countries and religious backgrounds cover the theoretical aspects of the relation of religious tourism with technology, while highlighting global cases, contemporary trends and potential future trends. This book will be suitable for students, the research community, and academics who wish to study new dimensions of religious tourism, with respect to its adoption of modern technology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781836622611
Publisher:	Emerald Publishing Limited
Publication date:	04/07/2025
Series:	Entrepreneurship and Technology in Tourism and Hospitality
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Pankaj Kumar Tyagi is a Professor at Chandigarh University, Mohali, India. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, teaching, training, consultancy, and expertise in destination management, travel process and disruptive technologies.

Neha Sharma is an Assistant Professor In Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur, India. Her teaching interests include Tourism Resources, Tourism Operations Management and Hospitality Management.

Pramendra Singh is currently working as an Assistant Professor in School of Hotel Management & Tourism, Lovely Professional University, India. He has more than ten years of teaching and research experience.

Vaibhav Bhatt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India. He has more than ten years of industry, research, and teaching.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Virtual Reality and Pilgrimage Tourism: An Exploratory Study; Eunice Duarte and Marco Martins
Chapter 2. Divine Realms in Digital Space: Exploring Augmented Reality as a Catalyst for Religious Heritage Management; Anderson Ngelambong and Aruditya Jasrotia
Chapter 3. Role of Technology for Sustainable Growth of Religious Tourism; Ganesan Muruganantham and Udaya Sankar Patro
Chapter 4. Transforming Visitors’ Experiences and Site Management: Role of Technology in Enhancing Services at Religious Tourism Destinations; Manisha Seal, Pramendra Singh, and Disha Sharma
Chapter 5. Augmented Reality's Impact on Visitor Engagement and Experiential Management in Religious Heritage Sites; Mohammed Niyas KK, Robinet Jacob, Toney K Thomas, Raji Vipin, Joseph S Raju, Miriam Najjim, and Vishnu Saju
Chapter 6. Digital Pilgrimage: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Sacred Journeys; Karan Berry
Chapter 7. Smart Technology Integration in Religious Tourism Destinations: Enhancing Visitor Experiences and Destination Management; Shreeansh Mishra, Jitendra Mohan Mishra, Anil Kumar Tamta, and Sunil Kumar Sahu
Chapter 8. A Study on Sustainability Concerns in Religious and Spiritual Tourism and the Intervening Role of ICT: A Bibliometric Review; Bhumi Vyas and Pooja Shah
Chapter 9. Faith in the Digital Age: Exploring the Changing Diaspora of Religious Tourism; Reena George
Chapter 10. Cyber Sanctuaries: Exploring the Intersection of Virtual Reality and Spiritual Experience; Rajeev Semwal and Pankaj Kumar Tyagi
Chapter 11. The Role of Social Media as a Promotional Tool in Developing Religious Tourism in Odisha; Subrat Swain, Shwetasaibal Samanta Sahoo, and Ravish Mathew
Chapter 12. Analyzing The Role of Augmented Reality in Enhancing Cultural Interpretation and Visitor Engagement at Religious Heritage Sites; Ranjeeta Tripathi, Nishi Priya, and Sanjeev Kumar Saxena
Chapter 13. E-Tourism and Religion: Online Platforms and Religious Tourism Marketing; Mohammad Badruddoza Talukder, Firoj Kabir, Sanjeev Kumar, and Iva Rani Das
Chapter 14. Tourists’ Experiences of Pilgrimage Tourism at Velankanni, Tamil Nadu: A Netnographic Analysis; Vaibhav Bhatt and Diwakar Kumar
Chapter 15. Harnessing Digital Technologies for Cultural Heritage Revival: Analyzing Ayodhya's Cultural and Religious Landscape in the Post-Temple Construction Era; Kiran Shashwat, Anil Shashwat, Punit Gautam, and Vikash Yadav
Chapter 16. Promoting a Buddhist Temple: Harnessing Online Platforms for Religious Tourism – The Case of Maha Vihara Buddha Maitreya Bali, Denpasar; Ni Putu Putri Widyaningsih, Ida Bagus Nyoman Krisna Prawira Yuda, Ni Nyoman Arini, and I Nengah Subadra