Role of Religious Events in Development of Cultural Tourism

Religious tourism is one of the oldest forms of travel. Religion, tourism and economics are intertwined on a relatively limited space. This represents a challenge for all stakeholders directly included in tourism development: church structures and tourism economy, but also for all stakeholders that are not directly included: merchants and communal structures. Religious tourism is one of the forms of Cultural Tourism, and represents tourist travels with religious motives. One of the products of Religious Tourism are also religious events. In the Republic of Croatia, according to the main document for tourism development, Strategy of development of Croatian tourism until the year 2020, Cultural Tourism has been recognized as one of dominant selective forms of tourism. Within the frame of Cultural Tourism it has been emphasized that one of its main forms is precisely Religious Tourism. The goal of the paper is, through quantitative and qualitative analysis, to explore cultural tourist market of the city of Sinj, with a particular accent on religious events. The authors will conduct a benchmarking analysis with the most competitive destination of Religious Tourism in the Republic of Croatia, Marija Bistrica. Based on the results of the analysis they will propose measures for improvement.