Eudaimonic benefits of tourism: the pilgrimage experience
Marc van Iwaarden, J. Nawijn
Tourism Recreation Resarch October 30, 2021 DOI: 10.1080/02508281.2021.1986777 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 74 |
| Population | Pilgrims |
| Key findings | The authors propose that tourism research should use a eudaimonic well-being perspective. In 74 pilgrim narratives, self-transcendent peak experiences of revelation, healing, and epiphany reportedly produced spiritual growth that seemed to affect religious spirituality long after the pilgrimage, a possible long-term effect explained through autonomy, relationships, personal growth, purpose, character development, and self-acceptance. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper proposes that tourism research needs to explore the potentially lasting psychological benefits of tourism by implementing a eudaimonic perspective of well-being. Consequently, this study adopted a eudaimonic approach to tourist well-being by investigating the reported psychological well-being of pilgrims and the concepts involved in the pilgrimage experience via the exploration of 74 personal narratives. Pilgrims’ self-transcendent peak experiences encompassed spiritual moments of revelation, healing and epiphany. These experiences led to spiritual growth that seems to have impacted participants’ religious spirituality, also long after their pilgrimage, which can be perceived as a potential long-term effect of the pilgrimage experience. The self-transcendent peak experience of the pilgrims can be explained via enhanced autonomy, the experience of positive relationships, achieved personal growth, a sense of purpose in and of life, their character development and a state of self-acceptance.
Citations in the library
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