J2) Impact of Tourism on Corsican’s Religion

In the 60s Corsica underwent a transformation with the rise of tourism and a new influx of population. Since then, the importance of tourism on the island has only increased to reach in 2023, 3 millions visitors, for only 350.000 inhabitants, and 39% of the Corsica’s GDP . The sheer volume of visitors is having a real impact on the Corsican way of life, not only economically but also culturally and perhaps religiously. At least that’s what we’re going to question in this communication. 9 out of 10 Corsicans claiming to be Catholic, quite quickly the Church of Corsica took up the subject. Father Gaston Pietri is thus designated “diocesan responsible for the pastoral care of tourist realities” in 1976. The tourism policy of the diocese of Ajaccio will largely concern Corsicans from the diaspora returning to the “country”, in a sacred and annual pilgrimage. This decision seems to cause a first change in the liturgical calendar with an increase in religious ceremonies during the summer months. If this first change seems to come from the institution, and impact the spread of the ceremonies, a second one seems to change the ceremonies themselves, and comes directly from the population. This second change would come from a reaction to tourist with “spectacularization” of the rite. In this case the best example is the “Catenacciu di Sartè”. This phenomenon is reinforced by the way that tourists don’t want to see the reality, but the “authenticity” of the local culture. Through these two phenomena, who cross each other, we will try to show the impact of tourism on religion in Corsica.