Exploring the Spiritual Dynamics of Orthodox Religious Tourism: An In-depth Study of Visitor Experience at Osovica Monastery

Authors

Ivan Kosta, PhD Student, Singidunum University, Belgrade, SerbiaFollow
Anđelina Marić Stanković, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Niš, SerbiaFollow
Danijel Pavlović, Academy of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness, Belgrade, SerbiaFollow
Marija Bratić, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Niš, SerbiaFollow
Slobodan Čerović, Academy of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness, Belgrade, SerbiaFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

orcid.org/0000-0003-2472-2043

Abstract

Religious tourism is increasingly becoming a significant component of global tourism trends, contributing to a substantial increase in tourist traffic worldwide. This study focuses on analysing the motives, reasons, effects, and expectations of visiting Osovica Monastery, a recently renovated sanctuary of the Serbian Orthodox Church within the Banja Luka Diocese in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis, this research explores the motivations behind visiting the monastery, the impacts of these motivations on visitor satisfaction, and the factors influencing revisits and positive feedback. Utilising a methodological approach that incorporates both psychological and sociological perspectives, this study delves into the complexities of religious tourism dynamics, shedding light on the interplay between spirituality, culture, and identity preservation. The findings underscore the significance of spiritual motives in driving visits to Osovica Monastery and highlight the therapeutic effects of spiritual activities on visitors’ well-being. Additionally, demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education, and employment status are examined to understand better their influence on visit motivations, reasons and effects. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of religious tourism dynamics, providing insights into future research endeavours in this domain.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Kosta, Ivan; Marić Stanković, Anđelina; Pavlović, Danijel; Bratić, Marija; and Čerović, Slobodan (2023) "Exploring the Spiritual Dynamics of Orthodox Religious Tourism: An In-depth Study of Visitor Experience at Osovica Monastery," International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage: Vol. 12: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol12/iss1/12