Religious Tourism: Exploring Experiences of Spirituality, Place Attachment, and Well-Being in Zimbabwe
- First Online: 30 September 2023
Cite this chapter
- Ngoni C. Shereni 25 ,
- Sarudzai Mutana-Simango 26 &
- Munyaradzi Tiny Gango 26
Part of the book series: Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach ((RELSPHE,volume 7))
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Recent discussions among tourism researchers have focused on travel for religious reasons. Growing evidence suggests that travelers are increasingly seeking true spiritual experiences in the areas they visit. In Southern Africa, religious tourism has contributed to the economic growth of various countries. However, relatively little research has been dedicated to spirituality, well-being, and religious tourism destinations in this region, both generally and more specifically in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter explores how the COVID-19 pandemic might contribute positively to the well-being of Zimbabweans who visit religious destinations. An interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to collect and analyze data from participants (n = 17) of various religious backgrounds. Overall, the results suggest that spiritually significant places have an important role in supporting well-being of religious Zimbabweans. However, there appears to be variation in the degree to which individual well-being is shaped by encounters with religious tourist destinations in Zimbabwe. The implications of these findings for the study and practice of tourism in post-COVID-19 Zimbabwe are discussed in the final section.
Author Note
Correspondence concerning this paper may be addressed to Ngoni Shereni: Department of Accounting and Finance Lupane State University Office 312 CBZ building Corner 5 street and 10th Avenue Bulawayo Zimbabwe. Email: [email protected]
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Shereni, N.C., Mutana-Simango, S., Gango, M.T. (2023). Religious Tourism: Exploring Experiences of Spirituality, Place Attachment, and Well-Being in Zimbabwe. In: Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L.E., Cowden, R.G. (eds) Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being. Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39582-6_15
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