Il ruolo del turismo religioso come proposta culturale per la valorizzazione dei territori

Religion is a very important aspect of life for many cultures and one of the world’s oldest forms of mobility. According to a vast number of articles, books and researches, the socio-cultural changes in the centuries have led to the blurring of the boundaries between pilgrimage and tourism. This study presents a brief analysis of the main theoretical references on the topic and argues as religious tourism is one of the major world’s niche types of activities according to the World Tourism Organization. The specifc aim of this chapter is to outline the links between religion and tourism and how they are varied and have numerous implications for visitors, locals and sites. Finally, the contribution focuses on the opportunities of cultural development and the forms of collaboration and governance, for the promotion through religious tourism of the territories and local realities.