Hierarchical value map of religious tourists visiting the Vatican City/Rome

Researchers identified three prominent sets of values that drive religious tourism to Vatican City: religious and pious, spiritual, and tourism-related responsibility. The most significant connection found was between exploring the traditions and history of religious sites, leading to a genuine religious experience, which ultimately enhanced faith and spirituality. This insight was derived using means-end chain theory, analyzing foreign tourists' perceptions of Catholic religious sites when their primary purpose was religious tourism.

Kim, B., & Kim, S. (. (2018). Hierarchical value map of religious tourists visiting the Vatican City/Rome. Tourism Geographies, 21(3), 529–550. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2018.1449237