AEG114 FINAL ASSIGNMENT FRONT SHEET

Qualification Academic English 02

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Submission date July 1, 2022 (23:00) Date Received 1st submission

Re-submission Date July 9, 2022 (12:00p.m) Date Received 2nd submission

Student Name Nguyễn Trần Anh Khoa Student ID GBD210208

Class GBD1005 Assessor name Huỳnh Thị Minh Tâm

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___________________________________________________________________________________________

THE IMPACT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH ON

THE ECONOMY

THROUGH RELIGIOUS TOURISM

___________________________________________________________________________________________

FINAL ASSIGNMENT

AEG114

AUTHOR: NGUYEN TRAN ANH KHOA

STUDENT ID: GBD210208

CLASS: GBD1005

ASSESSOR: HUYNH THI MINH TAM

Table of Contents

I. Introduction.........................................................................................................................1

II. Literature Review...............................................................................................................2

III. Analysis.............................................................................................................................2

1. Definition.........................................................................................................................2

2. The contribution of Christian religions to religious tourism through art and architecture
factures...............................................................................................................................2

3. The impact of Christian tourism on the economy...........................................................5

IV. Conclusion........................................................................................................................6

Reference...............................................................................................................................7
I. Introduction

The purpose of the article is to analyze and discuss the influences of Christian religions on
the economic markets through a series of aspects of religious tourism in places in the
worldwide area in the time belonging to the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
However, major research will focus on Christianity in Europe, especially in Vatican City to
show the highlight impacts of Christian religions on the economy. The similarities and the
contact between Christian religions and tourism, especially in art and architecture aspects,
will be presented in the article to illustrate the link between the Christian faith and the
economy.
 Figure 1: a place in the Vatican (Schnarr, 2006)

II. Literature Review

Catholic Church interest has grown as the travel and tourism sector has advanced and
started to influence more people's lives. This issue is indicative of the importance of
religion as a driving force behind travel (Vukonić & Cavlek, 1987). Particularly the Catholic
Church has shown a greater interest in the links between travel and religion and has
frequently arranged gatherings to debate these linkages from a theological perspective
(Vukonic, 2002). A significant component of any nation's economy and cultural legacy is its
religious tourism industry, especially in the Vatican which is millennia old (Bozonelos,
2021). There is significant literature on the political economy of tourism development
(Bianchi & Man, 2021). In order to expand the cultural economy of rituals and religious
acts that are suitable for certain tourism markets, indigenous religious entrepreneurs will
be essential as prospective makers of new products (Kim, et al., 2019). Tourists are given
significance, value, emotion, and mystery by the cultural legacy at the Vatican,
demonstrating the reciprocal relationship between tourism and heritage that is articulated
within the postmodern cultural paradigm (Thouki, 2019). Religious travelers have the
opportunity to study architecture and religious art to strengthen their religious convictions,
which has an impact on the local economy (Zouni & Digkas, 2019). Religious places can
be categorized as tourist attractions because of their artistic, historical, heritage, scenic,
and architectural importance (Kim & Kim, 2018). Religious excursions and pilgrimages
ought to give visitors memorable and unique experiences to foster the long-term viability of
the economy (Romanelli, et al., 2021). Religious tourism is a strategy of economic
sustainability from the perspective that it represents an opportune moment to allow the
body to relax and nourish the spirit as well as a new way to conserve the beauty of
creation for future generations (Cugini, 2021).

III. Analysis

1. Definition

Religious tourism is defined as travel with the primary purpose of witnessing religious
practices or byproducts of tradition, culture, art, and architecture (Ncube, 2020).

2. The contribution of Christian religions to religious tourism through art and architecture
factures.

In the Roman Catholic Church – the comprehensive, spacious, technically sophisticated,

and yet also most homogeneous structure that history has ever produced, every elemental
force at man's disposal, together with every faculty of the human intellect and spirit, was
used to make it, according to Harnack’s knowledge (Harnack, 1957), there are sizable art,
book, and archive collections (Reese, 1998). Although such excursions are frequently
undertaken for aesthetic rather than spiritual reasons, visitors may be profoundly moved
by the artworks and encounter emotions that go beyond the mundane present (Zimmer,
2018). There, artworks in Christian places play an extremely significant role in attracting
tourists.

Figure 2: Sistine Chapel ceiling (Ribarska, 2010)

For example, the Sistine Chapel ceiling (Simoni, 1512), is a combination of 175 units and
outstanding research subjects of iconography science (Bull, 1988), really provides a
spiritual experience for tourists who visit the Sistine Chapel (Edwards, 2018). In
conclusion, Christian artworks considerably contribute to tourists’ religious experience.

Regarding architectural aspects, the top two reasons for tourists to visit English cathedrals
are architecture and history, followed by curiosity, the pursuit of peace, and the desire to
pray, reflect, pay their respects, or light candles (Kim & Kim, 2018). For example, The
architectural excellence and the supervisor influential Christian church of St. Peter's
Basilica in Rome is assessed (Mare, 2012).

Figure 3: Inside St. Peter's Basilica (Vincent, 2016)

Religious tourism has largely symbolized the Christian pilgrimage to St. Peter's Basilica for
many centuries (Gilli & Ferrari, 2017). Therefore, the structure not only attracts religious
tourists but also by its religious function. To sum up, both art and architecture in Christian
places are significant factors in the attraction and retention of tourists.

3. The impact of Christian tourism on the economy

Religion can spur economic growth, which is especially important when a location is a
home to numerous sites and well-kept monuments (Zouni & Digkas, 2019). Domestically,
religious tourism is the fundamental building block for the development of local economies,
the creation of jobs, and the enshrinement of cultural values. There are places that have
grown because of religious attraction (Ncube, 2020). This growth of religious tourism also
entails expanding multi-actor cooperation with public authorities enforcing policies,
allowing for the planning and management of services for the improvement of local
economies and quality of life (Romanelli, et al., 2021). More than 136 thousand
Protestants and half a million Catholics, or more than 10% more people than in 2018,
visited holy sites connected to the life of Jesus and there were 16 000 registered
pilgrimage groups in all in 2019 (Nataly, 2020). Religious tourism has historically alluded to
the creation of religious tourism destinations in the way to lure religious adherents for
pilgrimage in trying to entice non-religious adherents for sightseeing and, as a result,
indirectly drive profitability, commerce, and the economy (Raj & Morpeth, 2007).

Figure 4: A pilgrimage in Vantican City (Valicchia, 2015)

Nevertheless, visitors are not a source of income. The level of hospitality, gratitude, and
respect displayed at a shrine are examples of Christian virtues (Wiśniewski, 2018). On
another hand, Covid-19 impacted negatively religious tourism including Christian tourism,
therefore, efforts for promoting religious tourism can be a significant post-COVID-19 plan
for the industry's recovery (Mosier, et al., 2020).

IV. Conclusion

The article has discussed the link between Christian religions and tourism, which

impacts the economy. The success of religious tourism in general and Christian

tourism, in particular, is contributed by religious art and architecture – which make

sense of divide and spiritual feelings for tourists. As a part of the economy, Christian

tourism donates a wide range of economic benefits to local and national

communities.
Reference
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Bull, M., (1988). The Iconography of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. The Burlington Magazine,
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Cugini, A., (2021). Religious tourism and Sustainability: From Devotion to Spiritual
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