Religious tourism in Donetsk region: potential, problems and prospects

The article analyzes issues of religious tourism development in Donetsk region (DPR). Pointing to the significant potential for the religious tourism development in the region as a whole, the authors pay special attention to the Orthodox Christian direction, as it prevails in Donetsk region. The authors explore the history of the mentioned issues. The article analyzes various theoretical interpretations and approaches to definition of “religious tourism”. Religious tourism is a travel with a religious-cognitive purpose, when tourist is more interested in external side of religion, a religious object or phenomenon. The authors emphasize enduring relevance of the religious tourism development to enhance the spiritual and moral level of society. On the wide factual material, it is proved that Donetsk region has a solid base for development of this type of tourism. In Donetsk region and Donetsk 247 certificates of legalization of parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate have been issued (as of 01...