RT Article
T1 Spiritual Folklore Tourism: Tourists' Experience at Naga Cave in Thailand
JF Fieldwork in religion
VO 18
IS 2
SP 236
OP 256
A1 Agarwal, Ruchi
A1 Pongjit, Chompunuch
LA English
PB Equinox
YR 2023
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1885912005
AB This article highlights the importance of spiritual pilgrims' pre-travel experiences and belief in the divine spirit to fulfil their spiritual journey. We explore the experiences of travellers who visited the Naga Cave and sought spiritual help to fulfil their desires. We used netnography to collect travellers' stories to reveal the importance of seeking spiritual help and sharing experiences on Facebook to promote the sacredness of Phu Aue Lue and the Naga Cave. Some travellers cleanse their spirits before the trip using meditation, prayer, adhering to the five Buddhist precepts, and going vegetarian. Physical fitness is also crucial, as the 1,400 metres of the extremely taxing trail in the cave demands four to five hours of hiking. Spiritual tourism offers an opportunity for psychological recovery post-COVID-19, and spiritual destinations with folkloric overtones, such as the Naga Cave, are expected to increase in prominence among spiritual and general tourists due to their inherent healing properties. Additionally, the tourism authority may employ further marketing and promotional initiatives to promote Naga Cave as a sustainable tourist destination. The use of mass media for communication has been of interest in recent years, with studies examining the use of new media by individuals and the significance of Naga in Thai architectural and sculptural ornaments.
K1 Cave
K1 Naga Cave
K1 Social Media
K1 Spiritual Tourism
K1 Spiritual tourist
K1 Thailand
K1 Tourist Experience
DO 10.1558/firn.26830