Faith, Heritage and Religious Tourism: The Spiritual Experience in the Churches of Puebla.

Abstract

Religious tourism is one of the most relevant expressions of cultural tourism, integrating spirituality, heritage, and collective identity. This study aimed to determine the relationship between faith, heritage, and religious tourism with the spiritual experience in the churches of Puebla. 

 A descriptive research design was applied using a hybrid model built from the DIT, CRS and DUREL instruments, incorporating five dimensions: motivation, emotion, experience, religious atmosphere, and intention to return. A structured questionnaire was answered by 380 religious tourists in six emblematic churches, including the Cathedral, the Chapel of the Rosary, and San Francisco. Findings reveal that religiosity is the primary reason for travel, and that spiritual experience is positively influenced by tangible heritage and the sacred atmosphere within churches. Participants reported emotions such as awe, admiration, and inner peace during their visit. Additionally, 84.86% of visitors indicated that their visit enhanced their understanding of Puebla's cultural and historical heritage, and 100% expressed willingness to return and recommend the destination. The results demonstrate that faith functions as the main driver of religious mobility, heritage as a symbolic mediator, and religious tourism as the catalyst of a meaningful and repeatable spiritual experience. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of sustainable religious tourism and proposes a replicable model for heritage-based destinations.