THE RISE OF PILGRIMAGE TRAVEL

According to Australian luxury travel advisory organisation The Goldman Group, there is a growing interest in pilgrimage holidays – with increasing numbers of travellers heading to ancient cities and sacred sites. The company’s Australian Luxury Traveller 2019 survey confirmed that Australian travellers are contributing to the global trend towards experiential travel with nearly half – 49 per cent – agreeing that they travel to have experiences that are transformational. The survey also found that when on holiday, 53 per cent of Australian travellers are most interested in experiencing historical sites and heritage attractions; 48 per cent travel to taste the local cuisine; and 36 per cent seek to immerse themselves with arts, museums and culture. The Goldman Group identifies trending destinations of interest to be Israel and Jordan; following pilgrims’ trails in Spain, France and Portugal; the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea; and exploring the historic shrines of Japan (pictured).