L3) Do Religious Travels Transform Visitors and Affect Their Psychological Well-Being? A Study on Turkish Pilgrims Visiting Mecca

Transformational tourism is a concept that emphasizes the personal and spiritual growth that travelers can experience through their journeys, particularly in the context of religious or spiritual trips. Religious journeys can significantly influence travelers, affecting their perspectives, beliefs, and overall life trajectory. These experiences foster reflection, encourage deep immersion, and create a sense of connection to the divine, which can lead to meaningful lifestyle changes. The transformative potential of such trips highlights the importance of understanding tourism not just as leisure activity but as a path to personal and communal development. This research aims to explore the transformative impact of religious travel and its connection to individuals' psychological well-being. The study focused on individuals who travelled to Mecca for Umrah and Hajj between 2023 and 2025. Utilizing the Soulard, McGehee, and Knollenberg scale (2020), data was gathered from 504 participants. Findings indicate that visitors had limited interactions with local residents and experienced some transformation in aspects such as self-confidence and emotional and behavioural orientation. The relationship between the transformative effects of travel and psychological well-being revealed significant variations based on gender, age, and educational background, while no substantial differences were observed regarding the purpose of visitation or travel frequency. Furthermore, the research concluded that the transformative effects of visiting Mecca have a positive influence on visitors' psychological well-being.