Array
(
    [fullTitle] => IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM ON SPIRITUAL BELIEF: ROLE OF VISIT MOTIVATION, CULTURAL CONTACT & CULTURAL ATTACHMENT
    [abstract] => Purpose: This study investigates the impact of religious tourism on the spiritual beliefs of visitors, focusing on the mediating role of visit motivation and the moderating effects of cultural contact and cultural attachment. It aims to understand how religious travel experiences influence inner transformation in the unique sociocultural context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Method: A quantitative method was employed, and data were gathered from 219 tourists at prominent religious and cultural destinations in Saudi Arabia. The research applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test relationships between constructs. Measurement items were drawn from existing validated scales in tourism and psychology studies. Findings: Results affirm that religious tourism does have a strong effect on strengthening spiritual beliefs. Motivation for visiting was discovered to mediate partially the relationship, revealing that travelers' inner motivation and emotional involvement contribute significantly to spiritual growth. Additionally, cultural contact and attachment were discovered to significantly moderate the relationship, enhancing the effect of religious tourism on spiritual beliefs when tourists become deeply involved in local culture. Originality/Implications: This study extends the tourism and spirituality literature by integrating cultural and motivational dynamics into the analysis. It provides new insights for policymakers and tourism developers in designing more meaningful religious tourism experiences. 
    [authors] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [givenName] => Muhammad Awais Bhatti
                    [affiliation] => School of Business, Department of Management, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [givenName] => Abdisamat Sattarov
                    [affiliation] => Department of Finance and Tourism, Termez University of Economics and Service, Uzbekistan
                )

        )

    [keywords] => Array
        (
            [0] => Religious Tourism, Spiritual Belief, Visit Motivation, Cultural Contact, Cultural Attachment
        )

    [doi] => 10.24204/ejpr.2025.4814
    [datePublished] => 2025-05-20
    [pdf] => https://www.philosophy-of-religion.eu/menuscript/index.php/ejpr/article/view/4814/version/2199/3617
)
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IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM ON SPIRITUAL BELIEF: ROLE OF VISIT MOTIVATION, CULTURAL CONTACT & CULTURAL ATTACHMENT

Muhammad Awais Bhatti
School of Business, Department of Management, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia

Abdisamat Sattarov
Department of Finance and Tourism, Termez University of Economics and Service, Uzbekistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.2025.4814

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of religious tourism on the spiritual beliefs of visitors, focusing on the mediating role of visit motivation and the moderating effects of cultural contact and cultural attachment. It aims to understand how religious travel experiences influence inner transformation in the unique sociocultural context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Method: A quantitative method was employed, and data were gathered from 219 tourists at prominent religious and cultural destinations in Saudi Arabia. The research applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test relationships between constructs. Measurement items were drawn from existing validated scales in tourism and psychology studies. Findings: Results affirm that religious tourism does have a strong effect on strengthening spiritual beliefs. Motivation for visiting was discovered to mediate partially the relationship, revealing that travelers' inner motivation and emotional involvement contribute significantly to spiritual growth. Additionally, cultural contact and attachment were discovered to significantly moderate the relationship, enhancing the effect of religious tourism on spiritual beliefs when tourists become deeply involved in local culture. Originality/Implications: This study extends the tourism and spirituality literature by integrating cultural and motivational dynamics into the analysis. It provides new insights for policymakers and tourism developers in designing more meaningful religious tourism experiences.

Keywords: Religious Tourism, Spiritual Belief, Visit Motivation, Cultural Contact, Cultural Attachment

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