From church perseverance in authoritarian states to today´s religious inspired tourism

A comparative analysis of Christian pilgrimage dynamics under authoritarian regimes reveals that the popularity and development of religious shrines, such as Fatima in Portugal and Levoča in Slovakia, are significantly influenced by state policies. While Portugal's Fatima shrine thrived even during its fascist regime (1928-1974), Slovakia's Levoča only experienced a revival after democracy was reinstated post-1989. This study underscores the pivotal role of state policies in shaping religious tourism destinations, demonstrating that authoritarian regimes can either constrain or facilitate pilgrimage practices. The research employs a chronological analysis to explore these dynamics, providing insights into how political transitions impact religious manifestations and tourism.

Ambrósio, V., Fernandes, C., Krogmann, A., Leitão, I., Oremusová, D., Šolcová, L.,. (2019). From church perseverance in authoritarian states to today´s religious inspired tourism. PASOS. Revista de Turismo Y Patrimonio Cultural, 17(5), 1065–1078. https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2019.17.074