An American Evangelical Pilgrimage to Israel: A Case Study on Politics and Triangulation

Abstract

This article examines the political dimensions of American evangelical pilgrimages to Israel by using the methodological technique known as data triangulation. Based on evidence from primary and secondary data, the article illuminates (1) how tourism is used by pilgrims to promote their theological visions that have some political ramifications to the host country and (2) how the political circumstances in the state of Israel engender a noteworthy relationship between an extreme right party from Israel and the pilgrims. The findings regarding the political dimensions are organized around four functions achieved by using data triangulation. In so doing, this article attempts to provide new theoretical insights regarding the philosophical premises and the purposes traditionally related to the use of data triangulation in tourism research. Keywords: politics; data triangulation; pilgrimagesAs noted by Lasswell (1936) politics is about power relations, who gets what, where, how and why. In this regard, several scholars have examined politics as an integral part of tourism, since it involves power relations between different actors that take part in this industry (Burns 2004;Dahles 2002;de Kant 1979;Edgell 1990;Gibson and Davidson 2004;Hall 1994;Jeong and Santos 2004;Mathews 1975Mathews , 1978Morgan and Pritchard 1999;Richter 1980Richter , 1983Richter , 1989. To a great extent, these studies have approached tourism and politics by examining political actions taken by local authorities in an attempt to manage or influence tourism impacts (e.g., economic, social, cultural, environmental, and political). In other words, as the effects of tourism have become significant, politicians have understood the need to intervene and control tourism-related impacts in line with their interests or agenda. Consequently, the research on politics and tourism covers various topics, such as policy making and planning (Burns 2004;de Kant 1979), travel restrictions (Edgell 1990), physical planning and sustainable development (Morgan and Pritchard 1999), empowerment and tourism development at local communities (Scheyvens 1999), destination marketing and representations (Gibson and Davidson 2004;Pritchard and Morgan 2001), and international relations (Mathews 1978). This large body of literature provides the research on the political use of tourism with insightful perspectives on the importance of understanding how tourism can be used as a political means. However, the literature focuses on the governments, while not acknowledging the ways tourists and hosts may also use tourism to promote their own political and ideological interests.Within this body of literature the studies which focus on the political use of tourism stress three different actors that may use tourism as political means to promote their ideology. The first actor, as noted earlier, is the local government who may use tourism to promote a desirable image or political goal of their country, such as the case in the Philippine under Marcos' regime when he used tourism to recti...

Strangers in an old land

“…[…] Many of the pilgrims felt a kinship to the Jews in Israel. This finding is consistent with Belhassen and Santos' (2006) assertion that there are bonds between Christian fundamentalists and Israeli Jews:They [ Jews] are very strict in their religion. […] You see them and they're very modest in their dress […] They just live a simple life.…”

“…Authors have also noted that the pilgrims can potentially change the host countries that they visit. For instance, scholars assert that there are deep connections between the fundamentalist Christians who visit Israel and right‐wing Israeli Jews (Belhassen and Santos, 2006).…”

Visitors' Preferences for Interpretation at Heritage Sites

“…Research indicates that different heritage agencies manipulate the heritage presented in line with their interests and ideological framework. Examples of heritage suppliers are the local population (Santos and Buzinde 2007) and the state (Belhassen and Santos 2006). The present study suggests, however, that the tourist also manipulates the data.…”

A phenomenological study of CSR policy making and implementation in developed countries

“…reality exits; and . reality can be revealed through the use of multiple techniques (BelHassen and Santos, 2006).…”