The Economic Dimension of Religious Heritage Sites and Community Wellbeing

Abstract

Tourism is a vital driver of community development and well-being, especially in disadvantaged regions, post-conflict environments, and developing economies. This study explores tourism's positive impacts, emphasizing its role in creating employment, stimulating economic growth, enhancing infrastructure, and improving living standards by bolstering healthcare, transportation, and recreational amenities. Beyond financial gains, tourism plays a key role in reducing poverty, elevating income levels, and fostering peace in regions marked by ethnic and religious tensions. The research focuses on investigating the economic benefits of religious tourism on local communities and their socio-economic progress at heritage sites worldwide. Through a secondary data analysis approach, this study synthesizes existing scholarly literature from reputable academic sources like Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, concentrating on the economic effects of religious tourism on diverse heritage sites globally using specific keywords. Case studies of pilgrimage sites such as Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes, and Mecca underscore the substantial economic contributions of religious tourism to national economies, showcasing demographic changes, job creation, and infrastructure enhancements. While acknowledging challenges like price inflation and cultural commodification, the study advocates for sustainable practices and stakeholder collaboration to ensure economic benefits are balanced with cultural preservation and community well-being, underscoring the transformative potential of religious tourism in driving economic prosperity and infrastructure development.