Στο πλαίσιο του Π.Μ.Σ “Διοίκηση Τουριστικών Προορισμών και Επιχειρήσεων” του Τμήματος Διοίκησης Τουρισμού θα πραγματοποιηθεί διάλεξη την Παρασκευή 09 Φεβρουαρίου 2024 και ώρα 11.00, στην αίθουσα ΔΤ2.3 με θέμα “Religious stakeholders perspectives on religious tourism development: the case of Cyprus” από την Επίκ. Καθηγήτρια Dr. Sotiroula Liasidou, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Cyprus University of Technology.
Οδηγίες προς το κτίριο Διοίκησης Τουρισμού (Campus Κουκούλι): http://tinyurl.com/tmg-location
PRESENTATION SUMMARY
Travelling for religious and pilgrimage purposes is an early-stage motivation for the historical development of tourism. Sacred places become important attractions for local and foreign visitors, and many countries invest in the development of religious and pilgrimage tourism. The paper elucidates religious tourism tenets, policies, and planning parameters by considering how it is developed and managed by the Cyprus Church, ‘autocephalous’ or ‘autonomous’ ecclesiastical communities. Cyprus has a rich tradition as an important place for the establishment and diffusion of the Christian Orthodox religion (Greek). Being considered the ‘Island of Saints’, Cyprus sets strong foundations to be recognised as a spiritual destination of devotion for visitors interested in discovering the roots and the spiritual essence of the Christian Orthodox Religion. The aim of the study is fulfilled by incorporating questionnaires targeting the responses of the key players and stakeholders involved in religion. The results suggest that establishing Cyprus as a religious tourism destination would bring many economic and social benefits. The main issue of concern is that any development in religious tourism should be aligned with the principles of Christian Orthodox doctrines without disturbing the holiness and spirituality of sacred places in an unorthodox manner.
SHORT BIO
Sotiroula Liasidou has a PhD in Management (with emphasis on Tourism) from the University of Exeter, UK, an MSc in Tourism Management from the University of Surrey, UK and a BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management from Middlesex University, UK. Her academic qualifications also include an HND in Hotel and Catering Management from the Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus. She is also an Associate of the Higher Education Academic (AHEA) of the United Kingdom and an accredited trainer of the Cyprus Human Resources. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship, at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). Additionally, she represented the Management Committee Delegate of Cyprus in COST Action TU1408 for ‘Air Transport and Regional Development (ATARD)’ (2017-2019). She participated in international conferences and published her work in peer-reviewed academic journals.
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Εκ μέρους της ΣΕ του ΠΜΣ Διοίκηση Τουριστικών Προορισμών και Επιχειρήσεων Του Τμήματος Διοίκησης Τουρισμού
Ioannis A. Nikas, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor
Laboratory of Tourism Information Systems & Forecasts
Department of Tourism Management
University of Patras