The role of religious tourism for poverty alleviation in rural communities

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, people have been visiting religious sites for psychological recovery, spiritual rejuvenation and healing. Rural destinations that possess rich cultural and heritage resources have found new opportunities to develop this form of tourism. Establishing sustainable religious tourism can help diversify livelihoods, promote economic recovery and resilience, encourage cultural pride and heritage revitalisation, and aid in the regeneration of marginalised and rural communities. However, poor funding and government support, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of awareness among authorities often pose significant challenges to the development of religious tourism in rural areas. There has been a dearth of scholarly attention on how religious tourism can contribute to poverty alleviation. This chapter investigates the potential opportunities for poverty alleviation through the development of religious tourism in rural communities. The chapter recommends the need for collaborative partnerships among multiple stakeholders and policymakers to optimise the potential benefits of religious tourism development.