Image Creation for Pilgrimage Attractions with the concept of Sense of Place Image Creation for Pilgrimage Attractions with the Sense of Place concept

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to examine the characteristics of sense of place from tourists’ viewpoints. 2) to propose guidelines of image creation for pilgrimage attractions. A qualitative study used thematic analysis to categorize thoughts and attitudes from in-depth interviews with 52 Thai Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims. The results showed that 1) there are two primary features of the sense of place: the sense of therapeutics that helps tourists feel healed. And the sense of theoplacity in the way that tourists perceived the authenticity of the site as a place of a compilation of cultures and teachings. 2) The guidelines for image creation for pilgrimage attractions can be developed in any of the 5 themes; the image of tranquility, the image of blessings, the image of uniqueness, the image of heritage, and the image of spiritual wellness and transformation.