The International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference (IRTP), organised by the Institute for Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage (IRTP) in conjunction with the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage (IJRTP) and hosted by the University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, invites abstracts for its 18th Annual International Conference, to be held from 23rd–26th June 2027 in Portorož, Slovenia. Portorož lies in Slovenian Istria, at the meeting point of the Alps, the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans – a small territory in which Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Habsburg, Slavic and Yugoslav layers of religious life have been continuously negotiated. Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim heritages meet here within a radius of a few dozen kilometres, and three national borders (Slovenia, Italy, Croatia) are within an hour of the conference venue.

The 2027 host region therefore offers a living laboratory for the study of pilgrimage across borders, faiths and languages, from the Marian sanctuary of Strunjan and the medieval
churches of Piran to the UNESCO-inscribed Škofja Loka Passion Play. 

The aim of the conference is to provide both empirical and personal insights into the changing nature of religion in society and to further the debate for both policy-makers and academics to consider these evolving challenges within the future development of faith tourism
and pilgrimage. The main emphasis for acceptance at this event is based on participants presenting papers, which apply to the main themes of the conference.