Managing Sacred Sites Book

Many of the world's popular visitor attractions are sacred sites. This unique book is the first to look at the nature of their 'product' ad the ways in which that product is sold to visitors. Sacred sites can be easily distinguished from other visitor attractions: the way the site is managed, for example, will almost certainly be as a not-for-profit organization where providing services for visitors is not regarded as the core business. Managers of sacred sites seldom recognize themselves as such: instead they might prefer to identify themselves primarily as facilitators of worship and custodians of a site or building. Myra Shackley has carried out extensive fieldwork in this area. Included in the chapters on visitor experience, marketing and planning, pilgrimages, and political and social contexts are case studies that illustrate how sites around the world have addressed specific issues and problems. The sites range from Machu Picchu to Nazareth; from Robben Island in South Africa to Iona in Scotland, from Easter Island to Mount Sinai. Managing Sacred Sites provides a fascinating overview of the issues that surround the interface between spiritual experience and the tourism industry, and will be of interest to those studying or working in areas of cultural and heritage management.Read More