SPIRITUAL FOLKLORE TOURISM: TOURISTS’ EXPERIENCE AT NAGA CAVE IN THAILAND
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17430615
eISSN
17430623
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85174214728
Journal Title
Fieldwork in Religion
Volume
18
Issue
2
Start Page
236
End Page
256
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Fieldwork in Religion Vol.18 No.2 (2023) , 236-256
Suggested Citation
Pongjit C., Agarwal R. SPIRITUAL FOLKLORE TOURISM: TOURISTS’ EXPERIENCE AT NAGA CAVE IN THAILAND. Fieldwork in Religion Vol.18 No.2 (2023) , 236-256. 256. doi:10.1558/firn.26830 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/90951
Title
SPIRITUAL FOLKLORE TOURISM: TOURISTS’ EXPERIENCE AT NAGA CAVE IN THAILAND
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
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.