Religious Heritage and Tourism in South Asia

Most of South Asia’s tourism is based upon the region’s pervasive religious heritage. This book provides a descriptive and conceptual examination of religious heritage in South Asia and how this tangible and intangible heritage is utilized as one of the region’s most significant tourism assets. The book covers the living and built cultural heritage of South Asia’s main religions, both those that originated in the region and those introduced from outside. In particular, it focuses on the cultural past and present of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Christianity, as well as other spiritualities and faith traditions that combine to create a unique and engaging religious heritagescape, which is a crucial part of the tourism product in all seven countries of the region. Pilgrimage mobilities, religious tourism, spiritual architecture and built environments, tantric practices, marketing and management principles and challenges, heritage development, market demand, conservation, death and dying, sacred geographies, and many other principles form the core of the book. This collection of essays and cases aims to provide native perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of religious tourism in South Asia. As such, it appeals to researchers and upper-level students of tourism, geography, religious and heritage studies, anthropology, and South Asian studies.