The Postgraduate Program in Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism is organizing a scientific conference on “The Contribution of Museums to Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism” on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. online.

Contemporary research has shown that cultural tourists and pilgrims seek experiential experiences, which can be served by interactive visits to museums that offer attractive and organized content relevant to their interests. As part of cultural tourism, religious and pilgrimage tourism examines its relationship with museums and the importance of their appropriate use in religious tour programs.

During the workshop, Ms. Diotima Liantini-Nikolakakou, Professor of Museum Education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, will analyze the topic based on her research expertise, and Dr. Antigone Tzitzibasi, Head of the Byzantine Museum Department, will present the operation of this museum as a case study.

The aim of the event is to promote museums as resources for religious and pilgrimage tourism and to highlight religious and pilgrimage tourism as an educational and developmental factor in tourism.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Greeting by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos Mangioros

Greeting from the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Athanasios Gikas

Greeting by the Dean of the School of Economics and Management, DIPAE, Professor Fotis Kilipiris

Greeting by the Chair of the Department of Social Theology and Christian Culture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Apostolos Kralidis

Greeting by the Chair of the Department of Organizational Management, Marketing, and Tourism, DIPAE, Professor Panagiotis Kassianidis

Greeting by the Director of the Inter-instutional Postgraduate Program in Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism, Professor Soultana Lambrou

Presentation by Ms. Diotima Liantini-Nikolakakou, Professor of Museum Education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: “The Contribution of Museums to Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism”

Presentation by Dr. Antigone Tzitzibasi, Head of Collections at the Museum of Byzantine Culture: “Museums and Religious Tourism. The case of the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki.”

Open Conversation

The event will take place via the Zoom online platform at the following link https://authgr.zoom.us/j/92219881198 and is open for any interested parties