Thanatourism’s Final Frontiers? Visits to Cemeteries, Churchyards and Funerary Sites as Sacred and Secular Pilgrimage

This paper examines the historical and contemporary status of cemeteries, churchyards and other funerary sites, and their textual characteristics, as pilgrimage goals. The first part of the paper traces their historical evolution as pilgrimage goals internationally, their discursive features, and the activities associated with visiting them. The second part examines the contemporary tourism functions they may serve for destination planners.