The role of religious tourism in the sustainable development of the region

In recent years, the growing importance of religious tourism in the broad sense has been noted, both as an area of scientific research and in the practical sphere. Places of religious worship often become tourist destinations, giving many regions an opportunity for development. The direct and indirect impact of tourism permeates the economic, socio-cultural and environmental spheres. The aim of this article is to define the role of religious tourism in the sustainable development of a region, with particular emphasis on its impact on the preservation of cultural heritage. The study was qualitative in nature and used a case study method – Podlaskie Province. The method of Individual In-Depth Interviews (IDI) was used, and respondents representing various types of economic activity in the field of religious tourism were purposefully selected. The original nature of the research stems from the inclusion of different types of service providers representing different religions, reflecting the multicultural nature of the region. The research showed that religious tourism can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals in tourist regions. In the social sphere, the results of the research inspire improved cooperation and awareness among all tourism stakeholders in the region, both in terms of the uniqueness of religious, cultural and natural heritage values and the benefits of developing religious tourism.