Whither religious tourism research? : conclusion and final remarks

The expanding field of religious tourism underpins the urgency for the construction of research agenda that addresses the myriad concerns that the phenomenon generates. The growth of global tourism, domestic and international, appears commensurate with the growth in religious tourism, and with this expansion comes renewed concerns about how religious institutions, events and places are increasingly falling under the tourist gaze. The continuum of religious tourism is typified by the sacred at one end and the profane at the other, encapsulating the problematisation of religious tourism. Contributions to this volume throw up several themes for discussion, albeit a mere slice of the wider phenomenon. Whether religious tourism is a mode of travel that is the archetype for sustainable tourism or not remains at large, and is what this endeavour seeks to unpack. Moreover, as religious tourism booms, the urgency for research that seeks solutions for evident growing pains is vital.