A multicultural retreat in exotic serenity: interpreting temple stay experience using the Mandala of Health model |
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| Authors: | So Young Bae Garry Chick |
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| Institution: | 1. College of Hotel &2. Tourism Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;3. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA |
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| Abstract: | Temple stay is a creative form of religious tourism in Korea that offers an authentic local experience at a Buddhist temple. This study is to describe the experiences of international participants during their overnight temple stay. Based on field research with in-depth interviews, this study result indicates that participants regarded temple stay as a multicultural retreat in a religious and therapeutic setting to promote their ultimate wellbeing. In the intersection of culture, religion, and tourism, this study offers a framework to understand the essence of temple stay experience to modern individuals based on the Mandala of Health model. |
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| Keywords: | Temple stay religious tourism authentic experience international participants ecological perspective Mandala of Health Buddhism Korea qualitative approach health promotion |
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