Perception of Sacredness at Heritage Religious Sites

Tourism at historic religious sites requires balancing the needs of historic preservation, the tourist experience, and community use of the site. The sacredness of these places is defined by the behaviors that occur there, the experience of users and visitors, and the meanings associated with the place by various groups. This research examines the tourist experience and perception of sacredness by Western tourists at Thai Buddhist sites. The tourist experience related to perceived authenticity, the aesthetics of the place, and its natural features, and the perceived sacredness related to the continued religious use of the site, presence of religious symbols, and historic preservation. Tourists and tourist-related commercial activities were the main detractors of the tourist experience and perceived sacredness.