Religious Tourism – A Tradition or a Modern Trend

This bachelor’s thesis studies the phenomenon of religious tourism, with a specific focus on Eastern Orthodoxy. The primary aim of the study is to examine whether contemporary forms of this type of tourism are rooted more in historical tradition or shaped predominantly by modern trends. Additionally, the thesis analyzes the socio-economic impact of Orthodox religious tourism, particularly its effects on local economies and international trade. The theoretical part of the thesis defines key concepts, outlines the historical development of pilgrimage, and characterizes Orthodox religious tourism within the context of current societal changes, globalization, and digitalization. The practical part is based on a mixed-methods approach: it includes semi-structured interviews with clergy members, survey research conducted among participants of Orthodox pilgrimages, and an analysis of secondary data regarding visitor numbers at selected pilgrimage sites, and a specific case study comparing Orthodox and Catholic religious tourism.