A multicultural retreat in exotic serenity: interpreting temple stay experience using the Mandala of Health model. Issue 8 (3rd August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bae, So Young; Lee, Choong-Ki; Chick, Garry
• Is Part Of: Asia Pacific journal of tourism research. Volume 24:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 789
• Page End: 804
• Publication Date: 2019-08-03
• Subjects: Temple stay -- religious tourism -- authentic experience -- international participants -- ecological perspective -- Mandala of Health -- Buddhism -- Korea -- qualitative approach -- health promotion; Tourism -- Asia -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 338.4791504429
• DOI: 10.1080/10941665.2019.1630452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1094-1665

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Temple stay is a creative form of religious tourism in Korea that offers an authentic local experience at a Buddhist temple. This study is to describe the experiences of international participants during their overnight temple stay. Based on field research with in-depth interviews, this study result indicates that participants regarded temple stay as a multicultural retreat in a religious and therapeutic setting to promote their ultimate wellbeing. In the intersection of culture, religion, and tourism, this study offers a framework to understand the essence of temple stay experience to modern individuals based on the Mandala of Health model.