Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the underlying dimensions of pilgrimage tourists’ experiences and to investigate the measurement of pilgrimage tourism experiences from the viewpoint of the experience economy. In the past decade, the experience economy has been advanced and in a new economic era, pilgrimage tourists are in search for extraordinary and memorable experiences. However, there is no academic investigations on the measurement of pilgrimage tourism experiences. The author conducted the questionnaire survey for tourists who have participated in Saikoku Sanjusansho pilgrimage bus tours to develop and test a proposed model of experience economy concepts. The measurement model includes six realms, and the data supported the dimensional structure of the six realms of experience, providing a starting point for measuring emerging experience economy concepts and practices within pilgrimage tourism.
