Abstract
Religious tourism is one of the most fundamental and deep travel phenomena, encompassing worldwide destinations for deep spiritual exploration. The present study critically analyzes the sustainability dynamics of religious tourism by conducting an extensive analysis of Mathura-Vrindavan, a quintessential pilgrimage location in India. Given its vast religious diversity, India is a key destination for religious tourism, one of the most significant and oldest forms of travel in the world. For the study, 245 questionnaires were gathered from tourists visiting various areas of Mathura and Vrindavan. This paper uses structural equation modeling to deconstruct tourism constructs such as accommodation, accessibility, and attractions and their three-dimensional impacts on environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability. An independent scale is developed in this study by using sustainability and religious tourism constructs together. The empirical analysis captures nuanced relations, especially regarding the economic opportunities of attractions and environmental concerns arising from accessibility. The results indicate how religious tourism is complex in its interactions, encompassing potential for transformation and inherent challenges toward sustainable development of destinations. By throwing light upon these intricate dynamics, the research contributes valuable insights for formulating strategic policies and holistic management of destinations for religious tourism with consideration of sustainability.
Keywords: Pilgrimage Destinations, Religious Tourism, Structural Equation Modeling, Sustainability, Tourism Management.