Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the underlying dimensions of Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage tourists’ experiences and to investigate the measurement of pilgrimage tourism experiences from the viewpoint of the experience economy. In this new economic era, pilgrimage as a traditionally religious act has been fused with tourism and commercialized as a consumable entertainment product by the tourism industry. Pilgrimage tourists then, while in search of extraordinary and memorable experiences, can purchase the access to these experiences of pilgrimage tourism as a part of the experience economy. The author conducted the questionnaire survey for tourists to develop and test a proposed model of experience economy concepts. As a result of the survey, it was found that the measurement model includes six realms, and the data supported the dimensional structure of the six realms of experience, so tourists captured six dimensions of experience value in the pilgrimage tours.
