History of Pilgrimage to Tourism: Emily Tucker

 In researching for my term paper, I read an article titled, "Recent Trends in the Study of Tourism" written by Janet Kahl. 

In this article is explains how there were several motivations that caused medieval pilgrims to go out on a pilgrimage. Such motivations included an order from the local bishop (as penance for sin), a desire to strengthen one's faith, an opportunity to give thanks for healing from sickness, or safety from a calamitous event. In medieval times, people were not allowed to travel since they were tied to the land and pilgrimage was one of the only ways they were allowed to travel. Pilgrims also believed that if they visited a shrine, it would bring them healing and a cure. Pilgrims were drawn to a spiritual center, in which they wanted to be integrated into that spiritual center and partake of the power they believed to be held there. They engaged in a myriad of spiritual rituals with hopes of deepening their faith to a level of greater intensity than was available while integrated into the "marketplace" of their home. There were numerous dangers that pilgrims would encounter on these journeys, but many viewed them as a chance to prove their spirituality and the harder the test they overcame, the greater merit they would receive. 

In the fourteenth century, the number of pilgrimages declined due to the black death. Pilgrims would create a labyrinth at a spiritual center (such as a church) and journey to the center in order to replicate a traditional pilgrimage. 

As technology advanced and travel became more accessible, the number of pilgrims visiting these historic shrines increased. With increased numbers, the shrines became more organized and institutionalized. Travelers began collecting "souvenirs" as a memoriam of their trip resulting in a commercialization of these pilgrimages. 

The author argues that "Tourism developed from a desire to see other cultures but has transformed into more of a general interest." While the Pilgrim returns home remaining at the spiritual center and living in a "purified state", the tourist returns home to their everyday life. 

I found it really interesting how the author explained the shifts in practices of pilgrimage that eventually gave rise to tourism. However, it is these shifts and evolutions that make it sometimes difficult to clearly define pilgrimage versus tourism. There are definitely clear internal differences; however, outwardly, many pilgrims engage in sight-seeing, and "souvenirs" to remember their journey by, and many tourists visit spiritual relics and shrines.