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season). Archaeological finds bear witness to the
culture of the inhabitants which goes back 7,000
years bc, and numerous archaeological sites and
artefacts have been found dating from the fourth
millennium bc onwards.
Once wooded, fertile and well-inhabited, this
area was occupied by the Hebrews around 1200
bc. Later, during the reign of King David, they
united and established a powerful state around
1000 bc. Situated at the crossroads of great
cultures and civilisations, this land has always
attracted numerous conquerors, including the
Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans,
Arabs, Crusaders, Mameluks, Turks, French
and British. The state of Israel was created in 1948,
and the frequent wars that have broken out since
then have led only to truces, with no global peace
agreement with the neighbouring countries.
The Holy Land does not bear this epithet only
because the Christians believe that Jesus Christ was
born, lived and died there, but is also regarded as
holy by the members of the other two monotheistic
religions, Judaism and Islam. This is so mainly due
to the numerous holy places that remind them of
their national and religious history. In this respect,
special importance is attached to the holy city of
Jerusalem, which has existed continuously for three
thousand years. Therefore, the Holy Land has
been a frequent tourism destination for pilgrims
and has been described in texts giving
accounts of their experiences on formerly long and
hazardous journeys. Modern religious tourism
relies on a well-developed and specialised local
supply of accommodation, transport and other
capacities and services and on a timeless and
unique image in the market.
Further reading
Allcock, J. �1988) `Tourism as a sacred journey',
Loisir et socieÂte 1�1): 33±8. �Describes elements of
tourism as a phenomenon with a number of
terms belonging to religion.)
Lefeuvre, A. �1980) `Religious tourism and pilgrimage',
On the Move 120: 80±1. �Contains the basic
characteristics of journeys with religious motives,
among which pilgrimages to the Holy Land have
a special importance.)
Rebic, A. �1983) Vodic po Svetoj zemlji �A Guidebook
of the Holy Land), Zagreb: KS. �In Croatian,
contains all the relevant information: religious,
touristic and others for the entire region of the
Holy Land.)
home delivery
TOMISLAV HITREC, CROATIA
Customers who wish to eat restaurant food in
their own homes are able to telephone their order
for home delivery. Food is usually delivered hot by
courier within thirty minutes of ordering. This style
of service is found in the ethnic and fast food
segments. Many tourism businesses now accommodate
this concept in their properties.
homecoming
PETER JONES, UK
The term `homecoming' denotes a sentimental and
social reuniting event of specific memberships. It
usually implies `alumni' within the educational
settings. Homecoming has been extended to
include reunions, be they families, clans, athletic
teams, institutions, military or corporate members.
These membership gatherings are always polarised
by special event activities and programmes. Most
are cyclical in nature. Though some are once in a
lifetime happenings, they still contribute to the
tourism business of the host destination.
See also: regression
homelessness
JOSEPH KURTZMAN, CANADA
JOHN ZAUHAR, CANADA
One of the paradoxes of global tourism is that, in
order to escape from the growing sense of
fragmentation and `cognitive homelessness' associated
with postmodernism, tourists render
themselves �albeit temporarily) homeless. This
situation is doubly ironic, given that local hosts of
destinations are themselves increasingly displaced