CULTURAL TOURISM AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES: A STUDY OF RELIGIOUS TOURISTS

Authors

  • Muhammad Awais Bhatti School of Business, Department of Management, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
  • Ahmed Abdulaziz Alshiha Associate Professor, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, Collage of Tourism and Archaeology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.2021.4278

Keywords:

Cultural Tourism, Intention to Visit Religious Sites, Cultural Competence, Tourism Brand Trust, Spiritual Experience

Abstract

This study examines the connections among cultural tourism, spirituality, and associated factors among religious tourists in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on how cultural tourism impacts spiritual fulfilment, considering visitors' intentions to visit religious sites, while also factoring in cultural competence and trust in tourism brands as moderators. This study involved 244 participants, who were administered self-report surveys during their visits to religious sites and cultural attractions in Saudi Arabia. Data analysis employed Stata-SEM software, utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) to assess the hypothesized relationships among the variables. The results indicate noteworthy positive associations between cultural tourism and the spiritual experiences of tourists, with mediating effects observed through their intentions to visit religious sites. Additionally, the study identified that cultural competence and trust in tourism brands exerted a moderating influence on the relationship between cultural tourism and spiritual experiences. This research contributes to the advancement of knowledge and practical applications in the realms of spirituality and cultural tourism. It substantiates the proposition that cultural tourism has the potential to influence the spiritual dimensions of visitors. The results underscore the significance of incorporating cultural and spiritual components in tourism marketing and destination management strategies. Moreover, they provide insights for destination stakeholders seeking to enhance cultural tourism initiatives, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in other contexts.

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Published

2023-12-30

How to Cite

Muhammad Awais Bhatti, and Ahmed Abdulaziz Alshiha. 2023. “CULTURAL TOURISM AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES: A STUDY OF RELIGIOUS TOURISTS”. European Journal for Philosophy of Religion 15 (4):1-23. https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.2021.4278.

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Section

Research Articles