International Scientific Conference – Exploring the Role of Religious Heritage in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism: A Global Perspective

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP ON RELIGIOUS TOURISM

Exploring the Role of Religious Heritage in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism: A Global Perspective

26 - 27 October 2023, Cyprus, Paphos

Welcome to the International Scientific Workshop in Religious Tourism 2023

The workshop aims to nurture a dynamic and open environment, encouraging broad discussions and the exploration of diverse perspectives. The research and insights of all the participants will play a pivotal role in deepening the understanding and exploration of the central theme. The workshop aims to provide a forum where leading scholars will gather to discuss and examine issues related to the relationship between sustainable tourism development and religious tourism, the contribution of religious tourism towards reconciliation and peace as well as issues of religion as a tool for promotion of cultural and religious heritage.

Organising Committee

Photos

Thematic and Subject Areas

The scholars and experts in attendance will explore various aspects of this theme, covering topics related to politics, economics, peace, and culture, all within the context of religion, religious heritage, tourism, and sustainability.
We aim to foster a dynamic and open environment that allows for the expansion of discussions and the exploration of diverse perspectives during the workshop. Your research and insights will contribute significantly to the overall understanding and exploration of the central theme.

The scholars and experts in attendance will explore various aspects of this theme, covering topics related to politics, economics, peace, and culture, all within the context of religion, religious heritage, tourism, and sustainability.
We aim to foster a dynamic and open environment that allows for the expansion of discussions and the exploration of diverse perspectives during the workshop. Your research and insights will contribute significantly to the overall understanding and exploration of the central theme.

Political dimensions of religion and religious heritage in the context of tourism and sustainability

Economic aspects of the interplay between religion, religious heritage, and tourism

Peace and conflict resolution within the framework of religious tourism

Cultural significance and preservation of religious heritage through tourism practices

Workshop Programme

Time	Info
08:30 – 09:00	Arrival at the Workshop Venue - Registration
09:00 – 09:45	Welcoming Remarks: Welcome by the Mayor of Paphos, Mr Phedon Phedonos Welcome by the Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology, Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris Welcome by the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, Professor Anastasios Zopiatis Welcome by the President of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management – Associate Professor Antonis Theocharous
09:45 – 10:00	An Overview of the Project RECULT-MAGNUM Dr Vasileios (Vassilis) Drakonakis, Project Coordinator, Executive Director NGO FILOKALIA – Church of Cyprus
10:00 – 10:25	Coffee Break
10.25 – 10.50	Keynote Speech: “Dilemmas & Critical Issues in Implementing Sustainable Religious Tourism” Professor Yoel Mansfeld Centre for Tourism, Pilgrimage & Recreation Research University of Haifa, Israel & President, Gordon Academic College, Israel
10:50 – 11:15	“Linguistic specificity of the marketing orientation for pilgrimage tourism advertising” Professor Olena Klymentova, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
11:15 – 11:40	“Recovery Strategies and Marketing Campaigns for religious and non-religious Destinations in Response to the Covid-19 Tourism Crisis” Professor Eli Avraham, University of Haifa, Israel
11:40 – 12:05	“Religious’ Tourism contribution towards Reconciliation, Education, Sensitization and Peace” Professor Charalambos Chotzakoglou, President, Society of Cypriot Studies, Hellenic Open University
12:05 – 12:30	“Religious Routes and Accessible Tourism” Professor Anna Trono, University of Salento, Italy
12:30 – 12:55	“Religious heritage and tourism: an opportunity for peacebuilding” Professor Silvia Aulet Serrallonga, University of Girona, Spain
13:00 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 14:55	“The Unacknowledged and the Unrecognised: Two examples of pilgrimage in Cyprus” Professor Paul Sant Cassia, Department of Anthropological Sciences, University of Malta
14:55 – 15:20	“Byzantine Museum AMF and its policies to promote looted religious cultural heritage from the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation”. Dr Yiannis Eliades, Director, Byzantine Museum, Archbishop Makarios Foundation, Nicosia
15:20 – 15:45	“Planning a pilgrimage route which also aims the enjoyment of creative tourism”. Professor Vitor Ambrosio, Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies, Portugal -- CiTUR - Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation
15:45 – 16:10	“Secular Pilgrimages to Off-the-Beaten-Path Places: Dangers and Possible Solutions” Professor Dimitri Ioannides, Mid-Sweden University, Sweden
16:10 – 16:25	Coffee Break
16:25 – 16:50	“The Common Religious Heritage on the Island of Cyprus” Dr Thorsten Kruse, Institute for Interdisciplinary Cypriot Studies University of Münster
16:50 – 17:15	“From Sacred Texts to Sacred Landscapes and the Rise of Christian Tourism to the Holy Land: Evidence from Late Antiquity Galilee” Professor Jacob Ashkenazi, Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee, Israel
17:15 – 17:40	“Pilgrimage, religious tourism, or cultural heritage? Continuities, transformations, and challenges in planning polymorphic and sustainable routes” Professor Christos N. Tsironis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Theology, Greece
18:00	Departure to the Hotel
20:00	Dinner Departure from Hotel at 19:30

Time	Info
09:00	Departure from Hotel
09:30 – 10:00	Keynote Speech “Do Routes and Trails help to make Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage more Sustainable?” Professor Kevin Griffin, Technological University Dublin - City Campus \| TU Dublin · School of Hospitality Management and Tourism
10:00 – 10:25	“Oklahoma's Jerusalem: The Holy City of the Wichitas” Professor Maoz Azaryahu, University of Haifa
10:25 – 10:50	“Interreligious Comparative Information as the basis for creating sustainable Peace through Religious Tourism”. Dr Areti Demosthenous, Director, Institute of Historical Research for Peace
10:50 – 11:15	“Systems Sustainability of Baha'i Pilgrimage Tourism Sites” Professor Tadeja Jere Jakulin, University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – TURISTICA, Slovenia. Department of Cultural Tourism - University of Primorska (UP), Slovenia
11:15 – 11:45	Coffee Break
11:45 – 13:00	Round Table Discussion – Wrapping up the workshop – General conclusion
13:00 – 14:30	Lunch
14:40	Departure from the Workshop Venue
15:00 – 16:00	Guided Tour: Early Christian Basilica-St. Paul’s Pillar-Chrysopolitissa / Agia Kyriaki Church
19:30	Dinner Departure from Hotel at 19:00

Why to Participate?

The workshop presents a unique opportunity for discussion within an interdisciplinary context and the potential formulation of synergies and future collaborations with leading scholars.