Managing Sacred Sites

"Many of the world's most popular visitor attractions are sacred sites. This book is the first to look at the nature of their 'product' and 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.". "The motivations of visitors to the thousands of sacred sites that form part of our global heritage are complex and multidimensional. Some are seeking a life-changing experience; others merely somewhere to while away a rainy afternoon. Some wish to worship; others to marvel or to explore. Managers of sacred sites have to cater for all these needs, while avoiding the temptation to reduce the site to the level of a secular attraction.". "Managing Sacred Sites provides an 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 the areas of cultural and heritage management."--BOOK JACKET.