Question: What is Pilgrimage Tourism?

Answer:

This is a very interesting area. Since pilgrims often travel to areas that are notably important in history there naturally are many who seek to visit these areas for both the historical element and for the spectacle of pilgrims visiting. For example, Muslims that go on hajj to Makkah do so primarily for religious reasons (hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, or the five necessary steps necessary in leading a ‘fully’ Islamic life) however the sights and sounds of the site create awe and interest in a historical way, similar to a tourist visiting Manhattan, the Pyramids or Stonehenge. Because of this, someone goes on a pilgrimage more for the sake of taking photos and viewing the pilgrimage as an outsider.

When a person goes on a trip that would normally be for religious reasons, but the real reason they go are for enjoyment, relaxation or curiousity, they are indulging in tourism that is based around pilgrimage.

This is found in many places. Lourdes in France is a good example of this. It is difficult to judge whether one is a ‘pilgrimage tourist’ or ‘spiritual tourist’ since the genuine intentions of the pilgrim are unknown and it is likely that everybody embarks upon some form of tourism during a pilgrimage in some shape or form.  Read more

In the case of Guinarona and San Pascual Baylon, we have shown that it can be done, with the international followers of Ang Banal na Pagaaral, where they converged in Guinarona on a pilgrimage to San Pascual, March 10, 2012. In the absence of BB’s they rented out houses. Neat! And very doable. Guinarona San Pascual Slide Show

We take this occasion to put the powers of San Pascual Baylon to the test. Do a novena, where you expound your goal or what you want to happen. All of nine days. Make a pledge to visit Guinarona, with your goals achieved. As simple as that. That’s Pilrimage Tourism at work. Novena for San Pascual Baylon

Well, they have drawn the first blood. Or that the genie is out of the bottle. They have the audacity to steal our revered and precious century-old San Pascual icon. Well, it’s payback time!

And the payback is for Guinarona to be on the World Map for Pilgrimage Tourism. Guinarona on Google Map