Pilgrimage Tourism, one of the oldest forms of travelling, is the largest tourism sector in India; annually more than 70% of domestic tourist movement is for religious purposes which comes to 250 million pilgrims (Jachowski, 2000, Singh, 2016) and accounts for 20% of the revenue generated in the tourism industry (Dewan et al., 2008), hence, making it significant religiously, economically, politically, as well as sociologically. The present study was based on a survey conducted among the visitors who came for the 17th Exposition of St Francis Xavier's holy relics, a Christian religious event, from 22nd November 2014 to 4th January 2015. Firstly, we discuss whether there is any association between the two groups of travellers (religious only Vs religious plus other travel motivations) and their demographic characteristics. Secondly, an attempt is made to explore the possibility of identifying latent motivational factors. Next, testing is done to find out whether there is any significant difference in motivational factors (Tsai et al., 2002) across various demographic characteristics of the combined visitors. Finally, the paper identifies the gap with respect to various facilities available for tourism, based on what the visitors perceived before visiting and what they experienced afterwards. It was found that demographically there is no difference between those who are coming specifically for religious purpose Vs those coming for religious and other purposes. Results also allowed the categorising of latent motivational factors and finding that demographically there is no difference except for age (working class) with respect to escape from busy life. With respect to the various tourism facilities, it was found that the quantified results exactly match with the qualitative findings of Wilson (1997); almost all of the facilities experienced by the visitors are falling under the A-Quadrant, where serious improvements need to be made. It can be concluded that there are many grey areas where timely actions from various tourism stakeholders is urgently required to maintain a consistent and positive image before the 'experience' becomes less attractive.
The recent virus outbreaks recently occurred in Wu-Han (China) not only has shown the vulnerability of the tourism industry but also stopped the world. Specialists and colleagues of all pundits have been debated hotly on the effects of COVID-19 on the tourism industry as well as the future of tourism research. For some voices, Coronavirus disease should be esteemed as a valid opportunity towards a more sustainable world (Gossling, Scott & Hall, 2020; Higgins-Desbiolles, 2020; Prideaux, Thompson & Pabel 2020) while for other it poses a serious challenge for the future of the industry (Korstanje 2020). Beyond this discrepancy, COVID19 has been widely and rapidly disseminated through the modern means of mobilities and transport which connected dispersed geographical areas in hours. Basically, and in weeks, the virus –originally spread in China- arrived in Europe and the US. In almost a month, the disease expanded to the rest of Latin America and Africa affecting all nations in the earth. The pandemic has unfortunately left 665.231 deaths infecting almost 17.040.985 (numbers updated in July). Although governments adopted different tactics and strategies, they consisted in several restrictions to global mobilities and tourism such as the cancelation of all incoming flights, national borders as well as the airspace, and the imposition of a lock-down which impeded internally the transit of persons. One of the most castigated countries were the US (152.945 victims) followed by Brazil (88.792 victims), the UK (45.961), Mexico (44.876), Italy (35.129) and Spain (28.441) only to name a few. What is more important, COVID-19 ushered the tourism industry in an unparalleled crisis which today needs from the inter-disciplinary research to find success post-pandemic strategies for a rapid recovery. Because of this, this thematic issue section brings together papers from professional researchers, scholars, and post-graduate students, as also policy-makers, that bring their advances with a strong focus on the effects and consequences of Coronavirus in tourism and hospitality. ; Los recientes brotes de virus ocurridos en Wu-Han (China) no sólo han mostrado la vulnerabilidad de la industria turística, sino que también han detenido al mundo. Especialistas y colegas de todas las tendencias han debatido acaloradamente sobre los efectos del COVID-19 en la industria del turismo, así como sobre el futuro de la investigación turística. Para algunas voces, la enfermedad del Coronavirus debe ser estimada como una oportunidad válida hacia un mundo más sostenible (Gossling, Scott & Hall, 2020; Higgins-Desbiolles, 2020; Prideaux, Thompson & Pabel 2020) mientras que para otras supone un serio desafío para el futuro de la industria (Korstanje 2020). Más allá de esta discrepancia, el COVID19 se ha difundido amplia y rápidamente a través de los modernos medios de movilidades y transportes que conectaron zonas geográficas dispersas en horas. Básicamente, y en semanas, el virus -originalmente difundido en China- llegó a Europa y Estados Unidos. En casi un mes, la enfermedad se expandió al resto de América Latina y África afectando a todas las naciones del planeta. La pandemia ha dejado, desgraciadamente, 665.231 muertos infectando a casi 17.040.985 (cifras actualizadas en julio). Aunque los gobiernos adoptaron diferentes tácticas y estrategias, éstas consistieron en varias restricciones a las movilidades globales y al turismo como la cancelación de todos los vuelos entrantes, de las fronteras nacionales así como del espacio aéreo, y la imposición de un bloqueo que impedía internamente el tránsito de personas. Uno de los países más castigados fue EE.UU. (152.945 víctimas), seguido de Brasil (88.792 víctimas), Reino Unido (45.961), México (44.876), Italia (35.129) y España (28.441), sólo por nombrar algunos. Y lo que es más importante, COVID-19 sumió a la industria turística en una crisis sin precedentes que hoy necesita de la investigación interdisciplinaria para encontrar estrategias exitosas post-pandémicas para una rápida recuperación. Por ello, esta sección temática reune trabajos de investigadores profesionales, académicos, estudiantes de postgrado, y formuladores de políticas públicas, quienes presentan sus avances con un fuerte enfoque en los efectos y consecuencias del Coronavirus en el turismo y la hostelería. ; Os recentes surtos de vírus ocorridos recentemente em Wu-Han (China) não apenas mostraram a vulnerabilidade da indústria do turismo, mas também impediram o mundo. Especialistas e colegas de todos os especialistas têm sido calorosamente debatidos sobre os efeitos da COVID-19 na indústria do turismo, assim como sobre o futuro da pesquisa turística. Para algumas vozes, a doença de Coronavirus deve ser considerada como uma oportunidade válida para um mundo mais sustentável (Gossling, Scott & Hall, 2020; Higgins-Desbiolles, 2020; Prideaux, Thompson & Pabel 2020) enquanto para outras representa um sério desafio para o futuro da indústria (Korstanje 2020). Além desta discrepância, a COVID19 tem sido ampla e rapidamente difundida através dos modernos meios de mobilização e transporte que conectaram áreas geográficas dispersas em horas. Basicamente, e em semanas, o vírus -originalmente disseminado na China- chegou à Europa e aos EUA. Em quase um mês, a doença se expandiu para o resto da América Latina e África, afetando todas as nações da Terra. A pandemia infelizmente deixou 665.231 mortes, infectando quase 17.040.985 (números atualizados em julho). Embora os governos adotassem táticas e estratégias diferentes, elas consistiram em várias restrições às mobilidades e ao turismo global, tais como o cancelamento de todos os vôos de entrada, das fronteiras nacionais, bem como do espaço aéreo, e a imposição de um bloqueio que impedia internamente o trânsito de pessoas. Um dos países mais castigados foram os EUA (152.945 vítimas), seguido pelo Brasil (88.792 vítimas), Reino Unido (45.961), México (44.876), Itália (35.129) e Espanha (28.441), para citar apenas alguns. O que é mais importante, a COVID-19 introduziu a indústria do turismo em uma crise sem paralelo, que hoje necessita de pesquisas interdisciplinares para encontrar estratégias de sucesso pós-pandêmicas para uma rápida recuperação. Por causa disso, esta seção temática reune trabalhos de pesquisadores profissionais, acadêmicos, estudantes de pós-graduação e formuladores de políticas, que apresentam seus avanços com um forte foco nos efeitos e conseqüências do Coronavírus no turismo e na hospitalidade.
