Religious Tourism and Its Impact on Spiritual, Physical, and Mental Health: Insights from Pilgrims to Iranian Saints’ Shrines

This study investigates pilgrims’ justifications for visiting Iran’s Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S) and the positive role of such pilgrimages in their religious coping experiences and healing practices. The research confirms that pilgrims strongly associate shrines in Iran with religious coping benefits and spiritual, mental, physical, and ritual healing. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling. Behavioural strategies, religious beliefs, and spiritual concepts are considered. The findings reveal that faith and spirituality play a vital role in how individuals perceive and cope with mental and physical health issues when visiting shrines.