20413 research outputs found
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Reinventing Islamic Pilgrimage in Jogokariyan Mosque, Indonesia
No full textIndonesian Muslims have a longstanding tradition of visiting holy sites as part of Islamic pilgrimages. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in mosques as popular destinations for spiritual journeys and meditation. This shift could potentially impact local communities and may lead to the development of new pilgrimage routes within the context of spiritual exploration. However, this paper examines the Jogokariyan Mosque in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which has become a significant stop on the Islamic pilgrimage route. The author utilises a case study approach, collecting data through observation, interviews, and documentation. The study highlights that a mosque, as the material objective of this research, is closely linked to the cultural and historical elements of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom in Indonesia. As a result, it not only serves as a place of devotion but also encompasses a range of social, cultural, and economic activities. Three key considerations related to the main aspects of pilgrimage routes are discussed, such as festivals, local markets, and cultural centres. The findings suggest that a mosque has multiple functions that empower local communities and potentially attract global recognition through its unique heritage and development. Therefore, the local community’s use of cultural heritage to organise various religious festivals further enhances the mosque’s attractiveness to pilgrims
Revisiting Tourism-Led-Growth Hypothesis in the Presence of Structural Breaks: The Case of Spiritual Tourism and Economic Growth in Saudi Arabia
No full textThe study explores the Tourism-led-growth Hypothesis (TLGH) with a focus on spiritual tourism and economic growth in Saudi Arabia. Using the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) for 28 years of annual data, we evaluated the impact of religious tourism on economic growth in the presence of structural breaks. Our analysis yielded promising results; thus, we make 4 important contributions to the literature. First, we establish the presence of a positive relationship between spiritual tourism and economic growth across all our models. Second, we discover that domestic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia is a modest contributor to economic growth compared with international pilgrimage. Third, we demonstrate the importance of a structural break in modelling the relationship between the two major variables, spiritual tourism and economic growth. Finally, we show that capital formation in Saudi Arabia’s economy is largely from foreign pilgrims. The findings of our study have remarkable significance for both investors and policy makers within and outside Saudi Arabia
Irish Radio\u27s Digital Transition: Back to the Future
No full textThe current paper critically interrogates the predictions made by experts in Irish radio in 2017 and analyses how they align with the reality of the evolved radio landscape in the Republic of Ireland in 2025. In doing so, the article examines developments in radio media in Ireland from 2017 to 2025, situating this national case study within broader European patterns of technological transition and media evolution, and looking ahead to likely developments in the near future. Drawing on longitudinal data from industry analyses, media coverage and regulatory frameworks, it investigates the persistence of FM broadcasting alongside the development of digital streaming platforms. The Irish scenario usefully demonstrates how combinations of institutional configurations, cultural contexts, regulatory frameworks, economic imperatives, and audience behaviours interact to shape technological adoption patterns. This analysis contributes to a broader theorisation of media transformation by demonstrating how technological transitions often follow non-linear pathways that reflect complex socio-technical and political-economic considerations rather than simple technological imperatives
The Power of Historical and Creative Tourism for Sustainable Development Goals: Baan Khamkerm – Nong Seaeng Catholic Church, Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand
No full textThis study aims to develop a historical tourism route tracing seventeenth century French missionaries of Baan Khamkerm-Nong Seaeng in Nakhon Phanom Province while developing local storytelling and creating digital media from information of historical value transferred through locals’ identities. Saint Joseph’s Church in Baan Khamkerm is the oldest church in upper-northeastern Thailand. To protect this historical site, emerging disciplines have offered potential communication tools for stronger heritage management. The research design is based on Participatory Action Research (PAR) which collects data from five groups of key representatives from the community of tourism stakeholders: 1) local community; 2) tourism policymakers; 3) academics / experts related to Nakhon Phanom history, and museum design; 4) travel agencies and professional tour guides; and 5) Thai tourists. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, group discussions, and reflections after pilot tours. The study results concluded that travel routes, including tourist attractions with traces of historical value, community storytellers, and digital media, all affect the potential to raise community income. The process of developing local storytellers affects the transmission of historical knowledge among people in the community from generation to generation, which is passed on to tourists. Digital media creates awareness of the value of the tourism community. Ultimately, the value of following French missionaries’ history through creative tourism activities, addresses the United Nations sustainable development goals. Creative tourism activities should be integrated with both formal and non-formal education curricula. Therefore, the evaluation of activities will be continued so that youth can pass on their ancestors’ historical values and wisdom to ensure community sustainability
Beyond Broadcasting: Irish Radio and the Convergent Mediascape of the 21st Century
No full textAs we reflect on one hundred years of broadcast radio in Ireland, we are reminded of the resilience required to remain a prominent fixture in what has become a highly congested digital mediascape. The Irish radio industry’s survival and continued success has been made possible, paradoxically, by remaining true to its origins as a linear, aural medium - while at the same time adapting to become a modern, digitally convergent one. Over the last twenty-five years, Irish radio has continued to serve as a live, spontaneous and trustworthy medium, providing an ever-present voice in Irish people’s lives at home and abroad. However, it has maintained its presence only by adapting to change, and by adopting new digital media technologies. Central to this is the integration of social media platforms as extensions of radio stations, which allow producers to engage and coalesce their target audience with curated multimedia content. With specific focus on the public service and independent commercial sectors of the Irish radio industry, this paper offers a critical review of the final quarter of a century of broadcast radio’s existence in Ireland. The article is informed by extensive primary research during the peak years of radio’s digitalisation, 2010-20, involving a multimethod approach including audience surveys, in-depth interviews, observations and textual analysis of online content. The article argues the reasons for the Irish radio industry’s success as lying in its ability to adapt in the face of economic forces and turn technological threats into new opportunities and to capitalise on the increased reach and ability to engage audiences online
Segmenting Religious Tourists based on Google Maps Reviews using Latent Semantic Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering
No full textResearchers in the tourism industry and academics are interested in analysing and extracting conclusions from user-generated data because they offer valuable insights into visitors’ motives, experiences, and consumption behaviour. However, religious tourists’ data have rarely been explored specifically in segmentation studies. Therefore, this study aims to segment religious tourists based on their Google Map reviews using Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) and hierarchical clustering. These analyses have resulted in three distinct segments: heritage explorers, aesthetes, and self-transcendence seekers. While heritage explorers are interested in learning about the cultural and historical significance of a site, aesthetes appreciate its beauty and art, while self-transcendence seekers seek spiritual or personal growth through their visits to the site. Thus, the findings suggest that combining LSA and hierarchical clustering can effectively segment religious tourists based on their Google Map reviews. This study is original in its focus on segmenting religious tourists, and provides valuable insights for policymakers, destination management organisations, and tourism operators. These insights can improve the overall experience of the identified religious tourist clusters
Developing Transformative Pilgrimage Tourism: Seeing the Relationship Between Stakeholders in Religion-Based Tourism Practices in Quds, Indonesia
No full textThe growing transformation of the pilgrimage tourism sector worldwide cannot be separated from relations between community groups, pilgrims and the tourism industry. This research analyses the relationships between stakeholders involved in faith-based tourism practices in Quds, Indonesia. Through a qualitative approach, we investigate, in Quds the interactions and relationships of multiple parties involved in the religious tourism industry, including pilgrims, government, local communities and related institutions. This research collects data through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. The results show that stakeholder relationships significantly create a sustainable religious tourism experience in Quds. Collaboration between pilgrims, the government and local communities has been proven to encourage the development of tourism infrastructure, protect sacred sites and promote destinations. Apart from that, the sustainability of the religious tourism industry is also supported by the active role of relevant institutions in regulating, supervising and improving the quality of services
Timkat (Epiphany) as Living Faith: The Intersection of Religion, Culture, and Tourism in Gondar, World Heritage Site, Ethiopia
No full textThe Epiphany celebration in Gondar, Ethiopia, is one of the most unique events in the world. Due to its outstanding cultural value, the Epiphany was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List. The remarkable history of Gondar and its vast cultural heritage make the city an open-air museum for the world. However, there has been little research focused on exploring the Epiphany celebration in Ethiopia. This study follows an exploratory and descriptive research design, utilising a qualitative approach. Interviews, observations, and document analysis were employed as data collection methods. Non-probability sampling techniques were used, specifically purposive and snowball sampling, involving seventeen key informants in the interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret and analyse the data. The findings reveal that there is much potential to explore the Epiphany celebration further for religious tourism development at the World Heritage site in Gondar, also known as the Camelot of Africa. The study explored several key areas: the historical origin of Epiphany in Ethiopia, the introduction of Epiphany to Gondar, indigenous cultural practices during the celebration in Gondar, the practice of the celebration in the city, the etymology and origin of Ketera, the potential of Epiphany as a tool for religious tourism, and an ancient poem used during the celebration. Overall, the study’s findings indicate that Epiphany in Ethiopia, particularly in Gondar, has been celebrated since ancient times. Epiphany enshrines indigenous cultural practices in Gondar, including the unique Ketera celebration tradition
The Unscripting of Broadcasting in Postwar Ireland
No full textThis article builds on existing histories of Irish broadcasting by examining the contexts and implementation of postwar reforms initiated by Fianna Fáil politician, Erskine Hamilton Childers. The lifting of script submission requirements and promotion of open debate extended Childers’ efforts to modernize Ireland’s infrastructure and promote civic engagement. Childers viewed Irish radio as a platform for cultivating critical thinking, public debate, and understanding of state institutions—assets he believed Irish citizens needed to compete in the global economy. The article reviews the repressive practices of the early broadcasting service that sought to avoid all controversial content. It also traces a throughline between Childers’ previous national improvements and his broadcasting agenda. It then analyses how Radio Éireann staff effectuated Childers vision by developing programmes such as Talking It Out and What’s On Your Mind?, designed to encourage dialogue and “disputation”. Drawing on internal publications and government debates, this article argues that despite facing resistance, the reforms constituted a significant turning point: Radio Éireann endeavored to facilitate democratic discourse. Challenging subjects and freer exchange were, for the first time, deemed suitable content for broadcast and recognized as having essential benefit for national development