What is the biggest religious tourism location in the world?

Mecca is recognized as the largest religious tourism location in the world primarily due to its significance in Islam. It is the holiest city for Muslims, being the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, located within the Masjid al-Haram. Every year, millions of Muslims from around the globe travel to Mecca to perform Hajj, a pilgrimage that is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and to undertake Umrah, which can be performed at any time of the year.

The sheer volume of visitors during the Hajj season far surpasses that of other religious sites, as the pilgrimage draws Muslims to fulfill their spiritual duty, leading to a significant concentration of religious tourism in Mecca. The city's infrastructure, hospitality services, and accommodations are specifically tailored to support the influx of pilgrims, making it a key destination in religious tourism.

While places like Jerusalem, Vatican City, and Varanasi also attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists due to their religious significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism respectively, none match the scale and dedicated influx of tourists that Mecca experiences annually during Hajj.