Religious Motivation at the Core of Route Preferences in Pilgrimage Decision-Making

Abstract

This doctoral thesis analyses the decision making processes of pilgrims traveling along the Portuguese Ways, focusing on the factors influencing the choice between the Portuguese Central Way and the Portuguese Coastal Way. The doctoral research considers individual motivations, cultural background, type of travel, physical route characteristics, external factors, demographic variables, and the religiosity level of pilgrim home countries. Considering the Portuguese Ways, descriptive analysis using Pilgrim Office data reveals continuous growth in the number of pilgrims traveling along these routes. The thesis identifies four main research gaps. Limited studies integrating religious, secular, and cultural motivations in route choice within pilgrimage contexts. Lack of focus on physical route attributes and external factors in pilgrim route choice.