The ethical challenges of managing pilgrimages to the Holy Land

The pilgrimage and tourist industry, which brings just under two million people from around the world to Israel and the Occupied Territories every year, is both a microcosm and perpetuator of the political tensions which divide Jews and Palestinians. This paper investigates the detrimental impact of religious tourism to the Holy Land. Different types of western Protestant pilgrimage are highlighted, as well as categories of tour operator. The consequences of this kind of tourism for the indigenous Palestinian Christians are examined, together with the ethical issues determined by the dominant political force in the region ‐ the Israeli Government. Tour operators and tour group leaders face significant ethical dilemmas in seeking either political balance or religious solidarity, and these are explored. The conclusions address some of the characteristics of what might be termed “responsible pilgrimages” to the Holy Land. This research is based on 12 years’ experience of leading pilgrimages and five years as a director of a travel company, Highway Journeys. The empirical data is drawn from surveys of tour groups, together with interviews with tour group leaders and operators.