“Beyond” Religious Tourism

Abstract

Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco, is a popular destination for different kinds of Muslim and non-Muslim tourists: pilgrims, religious tourists and cultural tourists. This chapter, based on primary research, investigates the relationship between tourism and religion, focusing on the Festival of World Sacred Music (launched in 1994) and the Festival of Sufi Culture (established in 2006) and on the project on the restoration of the Sufi mosque Ain Al-Khail. The case of Fez shows how a tourism offer based on Islam can attract people of all faiths and create dialogue among them. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity to show that promoting and supporting the inclusive and tolerant Islamic nature of a destination does not imply excluding people of other faiths. Highlighting Islam's natural inclination toward hospitality and travelling, the case of Fez shows how religiosity (and not just religion) can peacefully co-habit with tourism.