Analysis of the expectations and experiences of women visiting the Imam-ı Birgivi Shrine in the scope of religious tourism

This research tried to point out travel expectations and experiences of women visiting sacred places. The aim of study is to figure out and evaluate the expectations and experiences of the women in the religious places by means of descriptive analysis. First of all, in the research, a structured questionnaire was created by searching the related literature first. Then face-to-face interviews with 50 women who visited Imam-i Birgivi Shrine in Ödemiş district of İzmir were compiled and analyzed and the findings were defined. According to the results of the survey, the majority of women visited by religious motivation, religious sites, and entering into anticipations that would enhance God's material and spiritual life. In most of the women, religious and cultural, historical expectations were seen together. Except for religious purpose, it is relatively much less than the number of woman visitors who come for difference and to blow off steam. Many of the women participants have expressed that they are satisfied with their travelings, they experienced spiritual, social and psychological positive experiences. Most of the women participants had experience relaxing experiences such as happiness, peace and spirituality.