Religious tourism is a phenomenon that includes many different types of activities, from pilgrimages to visits to Notre Dame in Paris. While much of the literature relating to religious tourism concentrates on pilgrimage and those with religious intentions, little has been written of those who visit for other reasons and how these two groups interact. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between the congregations and visitors at two major religious sites which receive significant numbers of visitors for other than religious reasons. This paper considers the views of visitors to two cathedrals in Australia who were surveyed to find out the reason for their visit and their feelings to the religious aspects of the cathedral and the congregation. Members of the congregations were similarly asked about their position in relation to the visitors. Another issue that was canvassed with both groups was that of entrance fees being charged at the cathedrals. It was found that the congregations are happy for the visitors to attend the cathedrals and participate in worship but that many dislike being observed. Neither group reacted positively in relation to the imposition of entrance fees.
Through customer relationship management modelling, this chapter explores options for, and barriers to, the creation of a repository of information to support a variety of key stakeholders including the tourism sector and the clergy, who wish to demonstrate, maintain and develop religious and pilgrimage sites. Suggestions are made regarding the toolkit available for site guardians who have to manage the complex and diverse sacred and secular needs of visitors to religious sites.
A study was undertaken at the eight Parliament Houses of Australia in relation to tourism practices at the Parliaments and views of employees and policy makers to these practices. Specifically the concept of charging fees was addressed and differences were found between the views of the senior employees and those of the politicians with direct control over this policy. Evidence from other heritage sites indicates that the lack of fees is a justifiable position.
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