To research the relationship between religious practices, geographical determinants, historical processes, social and cultural environment, tourism effect in a very particular context of maritime way of living.

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To identify and compare the resources used in contemporary maritime pilgrimages and their efficacy in transforming these practices into heritage-based tourism that offers a unique experience of maritime pilgrimages.

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To assess the impact touristification and heritagization has on locally framed and locally important religious practices now being transformed into economic potential.

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To theorise how heritagization of religion and religious heritage manifests in revival of maritime pilgrimages, and impact local and national identities and economies in the long term.

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To produce transferable best practices and guidelines for making maritime pilgrimage a sustainable practice for future generations of local inhabitants and visitors.

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To provide a better understanding of the formation and adoption of religious practices within very specific historical and geographical context.

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To map the layers of narratives, discourses and practices relating to the past, present experiences of and future visions for the maritime pilgrimages.

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To define the main characteristics of maritime pilgrimages and establish a point of reference for future maritime pilgrimage research.