Management and Practices of Pilgrimage Tourism and Hospitality

Pilgrimage is one of the oldest extant and most basic forms of population mobility known to human society, and its political, social, cultural, and economic implications have always been, and continue to be substantial. In recent decades, a new focus on pilgrimage has emerged through the lens of tourism, which explores the political, cultural, behavioral, economic, and geographical impacts. Therefore, the identification of challenges in transformation and emerging ways and means of managing pilgrimage and related destinations is critical in an era of crises and disastrous situations. Management and Practices of Pilgrimage Tourism and Hospitality identifies, understands, and recognizes the changing facts and facets of pilgrimage tourism around the world. It develops and promotes pilgrimage tourism for community integration, faith-sharing, perseverance, tolerance, and pace for secular and sustainable futures. This book further identifies any new issues, scopes, challenges, and entrepreneurial opportunities for pilgrimage tourism as are found to be relevant and important for future pilgrimages with larger intensity and frequency. Covering topics such as behavioral challenges, community empowerment, and pilgrimage economy, this book is an essential resource for entrepreneurs, professionals, researchers, academicians, policymakers, students of higher education, sociologists, and more.

S. K. Gupta, Ph. D , a Professor in Tourism and Director at 'Centre for Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies' CMTHS, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. He is committed in imparting knowledge through research and innovation in the field of Tourism and Hospitality since last 29 years. His expertise in areas of Pilgrimage Tourism planning, Travel Trade, Community based Tourism promotion and technological innovation in tourism and hospitality industry is widely acclaimed. Prof. Gupta has published Eight books both as author and editor, several research papers in national and international journals and edited books and has also developed study materials for distance learning programs for various universities and MOOCs. He has guided fourteen doctoral research scholars to his credit. He has participated in a number of national and international conferences in India and abroad and has organized several national and international conferences. He is the Editor in Chief of "Journal of Tourism" (JoT), an international journal and Associate Editor of, "Ecoforum Journal" and "Revista de Turism- Studi si Cercetari in turism", International Journals, from Romania and member of Editorial Board of European Journal of Management Issues .He is reviewer of various Journal like Tourism Management and Geographia Technica. Prof. Gupta is also the Coordinator, European Union Erasmus+ programme for Inter-institutional collaboration between Dimitrie Cantemir University, Romania and HNBG University, India. He is the holding several administrative responsibilities along with his teaching and research responsibilities. He has successfully completed several research projects sponsored by Government agencies to deal regional and national issues of tourism development and promotion. Currently, he is also serving as a member of National Executive of Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress and also was member of RSA, United Kingdom.

Lilibeth Aragon is currently the Dean of the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila's College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management. She has an extensive background in the Cruise Line industry having worked on-board various fleets of P&O Cruises UK for years. She has also contributed in the continuous improvement of Training Regulations and Competency Based Learning Materials and Assessment for ASEAN and Technical Education and Skills Development. Dr. Aragon is an Accreditor for Tourism, Hospitality and Graduate programs of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). She provides assistance to Philippines Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as part of National Capital Regions Quality Assurance Team (NCR-RQAT). Dr. Aragon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism, Master in Business Administration and a Doctorate degree in Business Administration from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She took a Post Graduate course in Crisis Management at the University of Southern Florida, Muma College. She also holds a Higher Degree Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust of London. She is Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and Trainer by American based company American Hospitality Lodging and Education Inc. She also completed the Certified Guest Service Professional Course (CGFS). She currently serves the Association of Administrators in Hospitality, Hotel and Restaurant Management Educational Institutions (AAHRMEI) as the Internal Vice President and the Philippine Association of Researchers for Tourism and Hospitality (PARTH) as Board Member. She is also a Board of Director of the International Center of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE), an international accrediting agency based in Australia. Dr. Aragon is an ASEAN Master Trainer, the first batch to represent the Philippine delegation last 2012 held at Bali, Indonesia.

Pankaj Kumar is an Assistant Professor at Mizoram University (A Central University), Mizoram, India. He is an academician, researcher and consultant in the area of travel, tourism and hospitality management with over 7 years (Post Ph.D.) of teaching and research experience. Dr. Kumar has formerly also worked with Amity University Noida, India, Himgiri ZEE University Dehradun, India and Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, Africa. Dr. Pankaj Kumar completed his 'Master of Arts in Tourism Management' from prestigious Indian university 'Banaras Hindu University' Varanasi, India. He pursued his Ph.D from 'Centre for Mountain Tourism & Hospitality Studies', HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India. He has published over a dozen research papers in Journals, 8 book chapters and edited two books. His research expertise encompasses diverse areas of tourism and hospitality such as Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism, Community-based Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Rural Tourism and Tourism Business.

Madhurima, (Ph.D. Pursuing), is a PhD Scholar in the Department of Environmental Science, in Mizoram University (A Central University), Mizoram, India. She is a Gold Medal Recipient in the M.Sc. Environmental Science from Central University of South Bihar, India. She has bright academic career throughout her academic pursuit. She is a sincere and dedicated researcher and an impressive orator. Her area of research encompasses Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ecotourism, sustainable tourism, etc. She has published research outputs in different national and international journals and edited books. She has also attended several national/international workshops, seminars and conferences.

Rajesh Ramasamy is an Assistant Professor at the Mizoram University in Aizawl, Mizoram, India, where he teaches in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management. He has an MBA in Tourism, a Ph.D. in Tourism Studies, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Statistical & Research Methods and Event Management. He has ten years of combined teaching and professional experience in the travel and tourism industry. Festival Tourism, Tourism Entrepreneurship, and Tourism Marketing are some of his research interests. He has authored an edited book, published a number of research papers in reputable national and international publications, and delivered a number of lectures at conferences and seminars.