Fourteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Like other tourism subgroups, religious tourism should be seen more in the current competitive environment, where the tourism and hospitality industries constantly search for new customer segments. According to Rinschede (1992), the tourism industry can inhibit a competitive relationship, where tourists feel they have no alternative but to compromise their spiritual beliefs in favour of a tourist experience. In this context, the research question is why young Catholics compromise their spiritual beliefs in favour of a tourist experience. To understand this special Catholic Religious Tourism experience for young people, the researcher interviewed fifteen young people (between 18-24) from Spain and Portugal who are participating in World Young Day (WYD), which will happen in Lisbon on August 1-6. Note that 12 will participate in WYD with a full week registration (235 euros), with everything included: food, accommodation, transport, insurance and WYD Kit. Three are volunteers. They will register with a discount and different price (145 euros). The researcher re-interviewed them after the event at the end of the year 2023. The outcomes and findings show that tourism and religion should be complementary on World Youth Day (WYD).