Risk, faith and religious tourism in Second Modernity: visits to Mount Athos in the COVID-19 era. Issue 5 (3rd September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsironis, Christos N.; Sylaiou, Stella; Stergiou, Evangelia
• Is Part Of: Journal of heritage tourism. Volume 17:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 532
• Publication Date: 2022-09-03
• Subjects: Mount Athos -- pilgrimage -- heritage sites -- religious tourism -- COVID-19; Heritage tourism -- Periodicals; Heritage tourism -- Sociological aspects -- Periodicals; 306.4819
• DOI: 10.1080/1743873X.2021.2007252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-873X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the decision of people to visit the Mount Athos monastic community. It traces the immediate reaction of pilgrims and visitors to a world religious/ heritage place vis-à-vis the global health risk. The questionnaire-based methodology investigates the respondents' attitude towards faith, as well as their socio-cultural background to contextualize their stances and preferences on the aspects of their past and future visits. Moreover, the terms 'Risk Society' and 'Second Modernity' provide a theoretical background in relation to the COVID-19 influence on visitors and pilgrims' motivations. The results of this research point towards the resilience of religious destinations in the face of looming health risks such as the current epidemic.