Study conducted at the Shrine of Fatima assesses tourist experiences in sacred places

^{English version by Diana Taborda}

A research team has conducted a study on tourism experience of the Shrine of Fatima, concluding that strong emotional attachment to the place and memorable experience are two of the dimensions that characterise the experience of those visiting this holy destination in central Portugal.

In the article “Exploring Memorable Sacred Tourism Experiences and Place Attachment”, published in the “International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage”, the researchers aimed to contribute to the knowledge of tourist experiences in sacred places, especially their impact on visitors, using the Shrine of Fatima as a case study.

“Religious tourism is a segment of tourism involving people whose motivation for travelling is faith, the search for spirituality, religious practice and the search for a spiritual experience, and it's one of the oldest forms of tourism. In the earliest civilisations, pilgrimages to religious sites attracted large numbers of people in search of spirituality and faith”, explains Cláudia Seabra, one of the researchers involved in the study, a professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra and researcher at the UC Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT).

Cláudia Seabra adds that "the research team used a survey completed by 329 national and international visitors to the Shrine of Fatima and identified four main characteristics that marked the tourist experience of these people: 1) meaningfulness and refreshment; 2) hedonism; 3) novelty; and 4) involvement".

In addition to the tourist experience, the team also sought to understand visitors' attachment to the Shrine of Fatima. Analysis of the data made it possible to "identify four dimensions of place attachment to this type of destination: 1) identity; 2) dependence; 3) familiarity; and 4) symbolism," the researcher said.

"Today, pilgrimages and visits to holy places attract thousands of people all over the world. In Portugal, the pilgrimages to Fatima and the Portuguese Way of St. James (Caminho Português de Santiago) are examples of major pilgrimages that bring thousands of Portuguese and foreign tourists to our country every year in search of memorable and unique experiences. The World Youth Day in Lisbon (WYD 2023) is a further paramount example".

Seabra says this study shows that "these places have a unique and irreplaceable value and that those who visit them are very likely to want to visit them again. Therefore, understanding the tourist experience in sacred places is essential for the proper management of these sites".

In the set of recommendations outlined in the study, Cláudia Seabra points out that "public and private organisations must be able to offer experiences and activities that promote visitor engagement and proximity to local communities. Again, using the example of WYD2023, the element most mentioned and praised by visitors was the proximity and involvement with local people, which led to a more immersive and memorable cultural experience. Portugal is known as a very hospitable country, so this dimension should always be encouraged. In addition, the locals themselves become more accepting and also benefit from tourism".

The study also involved researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Carla Silva, José Luís Abrantes and Manuel Reis. The scientific article is available here.