TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CENTERS OF PILGRIMAGE AND RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN CENTRAL RUSSIA

Abstract

The sphere of religious tourism is actively developing in Russia, both quantitatively (an increasing tourist flow) and qualitatively (an increasing complexity of tourist needs). This paper deals with the current state and territorial organization of Orthodox religious tourism and pilgrimage in Central Russia. The purpose of the study is to identify spatial patterns in the distribution of pilgrim flows and to assess the resource potential of the territory for the development of this type of tourism, which is done on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of holy sites. An integral indicator of a monastery's potential attractiveness has been developed as a methodological basis; a model for calculating the settlement field potential has been adapted for spatial analysis. Data on trips organized by the pilgrimage services of the dioceses located in Central Russia was used as a source of information on actual tourist flows. The paper reveals a clear center peripheral structure of the territory’s attractiveness for religious tourism, with the core in the Moscow region as well as the historical centers of Northeastern Russia and a vast periphery in the west and south of the region. The factors and stages of the formation of this structure are described; historical and cultural factors served as primary ones, while physical-geographical, administrative, and settlement factors were secondary. The key subcenters have been identified, differing in the geographical location, the dominant type of holy sites, and the level of popularity among external and internal tourists. The study has established a direct relationship between the size of a settlement and the rank of a destination for destinations classified under the local to major ranks, and an inverse relationship – for the largest destinations. The conclusion highlights the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for quantifying and visualizing the potential of a territory. The work contributes to the development of geographical research on religious tourism and offers a scientific basis for territorial planning in this sphere.