Faith-based travel, particularly in the form of pilgrimage to one sacred site or a series thereof, has drawn travellers the world over to pay homage to their gods, to give thanks for blessings received, or to mourn those lost.
These may be trips to Mecca in keeping with the Muslim mandate for pilgrimage; a Roman Catholic trip to Marian sites as an act of devotion; or even a trip to the banks of the Ganges in India as a final act of pious farewell.
All of these fall under the category of religious tourism, trips that are more for the soul than the senses.
Worth an estimated US$190.53 million as of end-2025, the global religious tourism sector is a growth area for the global tourism industry, its surge fuelled primarily by a significant increase in spiritual consumers, growing interest in religious heritage and pilgrimage sites, expansion of religious tourism infrastructure services, government initiatives, as well as promotional campaigns on the part of one religion or another.
However, with geopolitical conflict on the rise, particularly in the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe, the growth of religious tourism as an industry may be encumbered throughout this year.
The rising cost of conflict
In a report published just last month, The Business Research Company forecast that the religious tourism market is expected to see strong growth throughout the next several years.
According to the report:
“It will grow to $263.96 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5 percent. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing interest in spirituality and wellbeing, growing international travel, rising awareness among consumers about travel destinations, low-cost air travel, increase in population, and rising demand for specialized faith-based travel packages and tours.”
Among the notable trends to watch in the field are advancements in transportation infrastructure and connectivity, integration of technology into religious tourism experiences, sustainable tourism practices, product launches, and growth of online booking systems.
However, let’s be frank: all these will be for naught in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine over Gaza, along with the unresolved conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Armed conflict severely compromises the safety and security of pilgrims and locals alike, thus putting a serious crimp in travel plans as tourism departments, travel agencies, and airlines issue warnings against heading into affected regions.
Government budgets struggle to keep up with growing numbers of pilgrims
One of the most prominent religious pilgrimages globally is the annual Hajj, the once in a lifetime trip mandated for all adult Muslims.
As a mandatory act of faith, the Hajj is usually held within the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and is observed with fervent prayer, sacrifice, and deep spiritual reflection.
Given the cost of the Hajj which easily runs to US$9,000 for an ordinary person, many Muslims struggle to save to make the journey at least once in their lives.
As a result, the cost of the journey and the subsequent devotional activities are sometimes shouldered by philanthropic organisations like ikhlas.com, the pilgrimage arm of Capital A, or even by governments in Muslim-dominant countries.
Throughout the past decade, however, budgetary constraints and other issues have made several governments in South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East withdraw their support for pilgrims or impose measures like a lottery system that limits the number of eligible pilgrims per year.
Among the nations that have stopped subsidising trips for pilgrims are:
- Egypt As of 6th January, the Egyptian government has ended the provision of government-funded pilgrimage slots for impoverished citizens.Owing to budgetary constraints since 2020, the government has shifted to an electronic lottery system to ensure transparency, and those selected by the system are required to pay for the trip through authorised centres;
- India The largest nation in South Asia ended Hajj subsidies in 2018, the context behind which involved accusations that the subsidy was being used to woo Muslim voters throughout the country, as well as those regarding pandering to ethnic minorities. For nearly eight years now, funds that would have originally been set aside for the Hajj are being used to fund educational initiatives for women and girls; and
- Nigeria A budgetary deficit amplified by religious discord also prompted Nigeria to declare the end of Hajj subsidies in October 2024 and the matter was ratified in February 2025 when reduced fares were announced for pilgrims flying out of the country.
Meanwhile, while not exactly subsidising pilgrims’ trips to Mecca, Pakistan and Bangladesh have long operated Hajj initiatives which enable individuals to pay for the cost of the pilgrimage in installments, often interest-free to be less of a financial burden.
While not exactly a free ride, these initiatives give citizens a fair shot at being able to perform the Hajj on their own terms.
Not out of the woods yet: health remains a concern even post-COVID
Budgetary issues aside, the matter of public health is another thing being taken into consideration with regard to religious tourism.
Too often, pilgrimages, even ones held locally, entails the presence of massive crowds in a relatively small space, opening up a significant potential for contagion to occur.
Asian and European churches, especially those frequented for Roman Catholic and Eastern Rite devotions, have resorted to the simple act of social distancing; however, this can be a challenge to implement during key points in the church calendar like Easter and Christmas or the feast days of particularly revered saints.
Masking, of course, is the course of prudence for many people who need to navigate through throngs; but even this is challenged, particularly by hard-core anti-vaccine advocates from various parts of the world.
To combat this, some governments have recommended medical screening in their home countries for those making their way over for a pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia, in particular, issued an advisory for mandatory health screening and vaccination for pilgrims prior to their trips, along with a list of those whose conditions may prevent them from fully experiencing key rites; these include the elderly, those with chronic health conditions, and those currently undergoing or who have recently completed a course of chemotherapy.
Among Catholics, while vaccinations are not strictly required, pilgrims are requested to avail of travel insurance prior to their trip as surety in the event of sudden illness or accidents requiring extensive medical attention.
For pilgrims of any denomination, however, note that the World Health Organisation offers specific guidelines for safeguarding their health before, during, and after their spiritual sojourn.
Potential alternatives, digital and otherwise
In the nearly three years of the pandemic, various faiths saw the rise of virtual pilgrimages wherein the faithful could log on to official websites for key religious venues such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe, enabling them to take part in devotions despite the inability to travel in person.
The concept of virtual pilgrimages goes beyond Catholicism, as there are options available for Buddhists and Hindus, some of which are offered through online platforms like Temple 360.
Even now in the post-pandemic age, virtual pilgrimages serve as devotional aids for worshippers, enabling them to explore their spirituality without leaving the comfort of their homes and, in the case of the infirm and elderly, without needing to compromise their health.
It could be that, with advancements in experiential technologies, virtual and augmented reality could help house-bound devotees experience a location for themselves.
At the same time, VR and AR could also have the following benefits:
- Reduce the potential for contagion in pilgrimage sites as these could significantly decrease the number of people within them;
- Significantly diminish each location’s carbon footprint as less tourist traffic will mean less greenhouse gas emissions, littering, and even cleaner water; and
- Mitigate the adverse effects of overtourism as less tourists mean a reduction in any strain on local resources, significantly less frequent traffic jams, and preserve the sanctity of sacred sites.
Countries that are home to large religious denominations may also consider the concept of domestic tourism in the context of pilgrimage, especially if there are locations specific to a devotion or patron.
Such examples could include:
- The Philippines The predominantly Roman Catholic Asian nation offers pilgrimage routes to churches hailed as heritage sites during the holy days of Lent leading up to Easter. Religious festivals such as those for the Black Nazarene and the Infant Jesus in January lead people to Quiapo in Manila, as well as other locations in the capital and the provinces of Cebu, Iloilo, and Leyte; while May brings Marian devotion to the fore in the cities of Manaoag, Pangasinan and Antipolo, Rizal;
- Japan While Shinto is essentially a global minority, this endemic religion offers pilgrimages to three key sites: the twin towns of Yoshino and Omine, Koya-san, and Kumano Sanzen. Hailed among the world’s great sacred sites under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, these sites celebrate Shinto doctrine’s focus on respecting nature, something that is intertwined with another major religion in the country: Zen Buddhism; and
- Vietnam The ecumenical nature of Vietnamese society can be seen in the various faiths practised depending on which part of the country you may find yourself in, as Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, and Hinduism all made their mark on the people. But it is the syncretic religion known as Cao Dai that piques the curiosity of both the local faithful and foreign visitors, drawing both to its Holy See in Tay Ninh, northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.
As we are but at the beginning of the year, it remains to be seen how the fate of religious tourism globally will play out.
However, one thing is for sure: not even the specter of conflict, contagion, and financial constraint can stop the devout from expressing their faith through travel.
