Independent Researcher and Alumnus, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
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Role of Religious Tourism beyond development and Growth: Analysis of France, India and Saudi Arabia
UnivColl International Multidisciplinary Research Journal International Open Access, Peer-reviewed, Refereed Journal
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10.65919/uimrj.2026.v2i7002
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Abstract
Religious tourism is commonly assessed through its contribution to income, employment, infrastructure, and regional development. This study examines its wider cultural, social, diplomatic, psychological, and spiritual significance through a comparative analysis of France, India, and Saudi Arabia. Using descriptive and comparative methods, the paper draws on secondary literature, tourism reports, and selected country experiences. The analysis shows that religious tourism supports heritage conservation, cultural exchange, community participation, and interfaith understanding while also strengthening national image and soft power. In India, pilgrimage reflects civilizational diversity, emotional attachment, and the revival of domestic tourism after the COVID-19 disruption. In France, sacred journeys continue to attract visitors despite secularization, demonstrating the enduring search for meaning, identity, and personal fulfilment. In Saudi Arabia, Hajj and Umrah combine spiritual devotion with international engagement, infrastructure development, and economic diversification beyond petroleum dependence. The study further argues that visits to sacred places can enhance life satisfaction, inner peace, belonging, and spiritual reflection, although such outcomes differ according to personal belief and experience. Religious tourism should therefore be understood not merely as an economic activity, but as a multidimensional process linking faith, heritage, diplomacy, social cohesion, and individual well-being across diverse national contexts in the contemporary global order.
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Received
11 May 2026
Accepted
08 June 2026
Published
07 July 2026
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© 2026 The Author(s). The author(s) retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License .
How to Cite
Nilesh Kumar (2026). Role of Religious Tourism beyond development and Growth: Analysis of France, India and Saudi Arabia. UnivColl International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2(7), 12-19. https://doi.org/10.65919/uimrj.2026.v2i7002
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No external funding information has been declared unless stated in the published PDF.
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The authors declare no conflict of interest unless otherwise stated in the article.
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References
Showing first 3 references. Click “Show All References” to view complete list.
- 1. Alaimai, A., Arun, A., & Aarif, M. (2021). Role of Hajj and Umrah (pilgrimage tourism) in Saudi Arabian economy. ResearchGate.
- 2. European Academy on Religion and Society. (2024). Religious tourism in Europe: Pilgrimage sites, sacred journeys, and cultural heritage.
- 3. Gambhir, D., Khalid, A. M., & Sharma, S. (2021). Religious tourism and sustainable development: Perspectives from hill states in India. In Handbook of Sustainable Development (pp. 273–287). Springer.
- 4. Iordache, M. C. (2020). Religious tourism: Between content and desire in economic and social development. Revista Economia Contemporană.
- 5. Mahmoud, M. (2020). Religious tourism in Saudi Arabia. Leaders.
- 6. Statista. (n.d.). Religious tourism in India – Statistics & facts.
- 7. Tasleem, R. (2023). India's religious tourism: A spiritual journey boosting the economy. BNN Breaking.
- 8. Triki, M. B. (2019). The role of religious tourism in sustainable development in Saudi Arabia: Evidence from quantile non-causality test. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites.
- 9. UN Tourism. (2014). Tourism can protect and promote religious heritage (PR No. 14083).
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