Visitors' spiritual values and relevant influencing factors in religious tourism destinations. (11th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Keji; Pearce, Philip; Guo, Qiang; Shen, Shiwei
• Is Part Of: International journal of tourism research. Volume 22:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 314
• Page End: 324
• Publication Date: 2019-11-11
• Subjects: Buddhism -- cultural value -- religious visitors -- spiritual value -- visitor experience; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.4791
• DOI: 10.1002/jtr.2337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-2340

Abstract

Abstract: This study has conducted two rounds of interviews at the Four Great Buddhist Mountains (FGBMs) in China mainland to explore spiritual values and relevant influencing factors of religious visitors. The results analysis has categorized seven themes of spiritual values. It reflected that visitors were trying to seek a balanced life status through maintaining good relationships with their inner selves, other people, and all forms of life. The identified spiritual values were simultaneously influenced by visitors' religious belief, cultural values, and environmental elements. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge about values and provide implications for developing religious tourism sustainably.