The Shrines Economy: A Case Study of Religious Tourism in Pakistan

Abstract

Religion is an essential aspect of the Pakistan culture, and this country has many shrines that millions of people hold sacred. This research will concentrate on the economic aspect of these holy places to analyse the aspect of religious tourism in the nation’s economy. Based on relationships with key shrines and their surroundings, this work evaluates direct and indirect monetised impacts, such as donations and offerings, as well as other revenues, including businesses. It also looks at the jobs offered through shrines including shrine management, restaurants and transport companies. The study also shows that religious tourism has the potential of encouraging cross cultural and contact between the religious tourists. Besides the economical factor, this study explores the issues that have an impact in the shrines economy such as; facilities/accommodation, security and the effects on the environment. It provides guidelines on how to get the best of shrines economically without reducing their religious and cultural significance. For this purpose, the study’s outcome may be beneficial for the policymakers, the players of the tourism industry as well as the shrine management to unleash the potential of Pakistan’s shrines for tourism induced economic development and cultural preservation. It is therefore the aim of this research to contribute to religious tourism literature by evaluating the shrines economy of Pakistan. This paper gives an economic perspective of these sacred sites, their viability for development and the possibility of developing sustainable tourism. This research therefore has a potential of coming up with right policies that will be useful in promoting religious tourism with a view of enhancing economic growth and unity in Pakistan.

Keywords: Shrine, Economic Growth, Cross Cultural, Religious Funding, Religious Tourism.