The Role of Sacred Moments and Gratitude for Camino Pilgrims' Paths to Transformation
(A2026-132752)

AUTHORS

Debra Basil, University of Lethbridge

ABSTRACT

This research examines the path through which sacred moments, and gratitude facilitate transformation and satisfaction for individuals who walk the Camino de Santiago trail. The roles of religious and spiritual pre-disposition frame this process. Through a transformational tourism lens, quantitative survey data are analyzed (n = 291). A series of Process models demonstrate that spirituality predisposes pilgrims to engage in religious trail experiences, sacred moments, and gratitude, which lead to transformation and satisfaction. Religiosity on the other hand simply encourages engagement with religious trail elements, without exerting other direct effects. Thus, pilgrims’ spirituality pre-disposition operates through experiential and affective processes, whereas a religious pre-disposition operates only through an experiential process. Both sacred moments and gratitude strongly contribute to experiences of transformation and satisfaction.