Can Tourism Be Spiritual? A Conceptual Study on Spiritual Tourism

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 65 - 76, 02.08.2025

Gizem Kiper , Orhan Batman , Vahit Oğuz Kiper

Abstract

Tourism, by its nature, includes many different and interdisciplinary concepts, both scientific and industrial. The correct understanding and even naming of these concepts is very important for scientific and industrial studies and efforts to achieve their goals. Because it is seen that these studies generally follow an exploratory, descriptive and explanatory order. Therefore, this study aims to conceptually examine the phenomenon called spiritual tourism and contribute to its definition. In addition, it is aimed to provide benefits to both the industry and the scientific development of spiritual tourism activities. The conceptual discussion of spiritual tourism can also contribute to tourism taxonomy. Understanding the origin, development, place in the literature and perceptions of a tourism movement with economic, social and physical effects will provide valuable contributions to both practitioners and other researchers who will work on this subject.

Keywords

spiritual tourism , ethereal tourism , self-belief tourism

Supporting Institution

Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Committee of Scientific Research Projects

Project Number

296-2025

Turizmin Spiritüeli Olur Mu? Spiritüel (Ruhani) Turizm Üzerine Kavramsal Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Turizm, yapısı gereği hem bilimsel hem endüstriyel boyutuyla birçok farklı ve disiplinler arası kavramı bünyesinde barındırmaktadır. Bu kavramların doğru anlaşılması ve hatta doğru adlandırılması bilimsel ve endüstriyel çalışma ve çabaların hedeflerine ulaşması için oldukça önemlidir. Zira bu çalışmaların genellikle keşifsel, tanımsal ve açıklayıcı bir sıralama izlediği görülmektedir. Bundan dolayı bu çalışma spiritüel turizm olarak adlandırılan olguyu kavramsal yönden irdelemeyi ve tanımlanmasına katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Bununla birlikte spiritüel turizm faaliyetlerinin hem endüstriye hem bilimsel bakımdan gelişimine fayda sunulması hedeflenmektedir. Spiritüel turizmin kavramsal tartışılması aynı zamanda turizm taksonomisine de katkı sağlayabilecektir. Ekonomik, sosyal ve fiziki etkileri olan bir turizm hareketliliğinin kökenini, gelişimini, literatürdeki yerini ve ona yönelik algıları anlamak hem uygulamacılar için hem bu konuda çalışacak diğer araştırmacılar için kıymetli katkılar sunabilecektir.

Keywords

spiritüel turizm , manevi turizm , ruhani turizm

Supporting Institution

Sakarya Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırmalar Koordinatörlüğü (SUBÜ-BAPK)

Project Number

296-2025

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