Sustaining inner transformation through spiritual tourism

ABSTRACT

This study aims to offer insights on spiritual benefits sought by a special interest market (spiritual tourists). Data for this study is anchored in a purposeful selection of retreat centres, that offer a mix of reflective and inspirational spaces, in a world renowned spiritual tourism destination (Rishikesh in India). One key objective is to identify significant predictors of spiritual benefits and scrutinise if visitors who indicate interest in sustaining spiritual pursuits or inner transformation differ, from others, in the type of spiritual benefits they seek. Furthermore, this study offers suggestions on how the retreat centres can optimise the spiritual benefits and ignite interest in pursuing sustained inner transformation. This study is unique in that it suggests a sustained transformation continuum for spiritual retreat centres.

KEYWORDS:

• Spiritual tourism
• serious leisure
• retreat centres
• sustained/inner transformation

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr Alka Maheshwari and Dr Manohar Sajnani of Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida (India) for their assistance in the first data collection phase. Because the first data collection phase happened before the pandemic, a follow up data collection plan was designed to obtain insights on the post-pandemic times.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Arizona State University.

Notes on contributors

Deepak Chhabra

Deepak Chhabra, PhD, teaches in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University, Phoenix (USA). Her research interests include authenticity and authentication of heritage; social and economic viability of different forms of tourism and; wellness and wellbeing through alternate healing/preventive therapeutic settings and programs.

Eunhye Grace Kim

Eunhye Grace Kim is an Assistant Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Studies in the Department of Geography at Central Connecticut State University. She received her Ph.D. in Tourism Development and Management from Arizona State University. Prior to joining CCSU, she worked as a faculty associate in the School of Community Resources and Development and a senior research associate in the Center for Sustainable Tourism at ASU. Her research interests include destination marketing, MICE tourism, cultural tourism, sustainable development, and economic impacts.