Israeli women’s journeys to Uman: exploring spiritual tourism

Although spiritual tourism is an increasingly important niche within the global tourism market, women’s spiritual tourism has received little scholarly attention. This paper addresses this gap by examining the motivations for and impact of spiritual journeys by Israeli women to an important Jewish site in Uman, Ukraine. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 Israeli women who visited Uman. Thematic analysis was performed to analyze the interviewees’ motives and experiences, as well as the spiritual and social impacts of their journey. The journey to Uman was a means of seeking spiritual and personal transformation that situated interviewees at the center of a powerful religious and spiritual experience. The study expands upon existing scholarship on spiritual tourism, with particular emphasis on women’s experiences, presenting fresh perspectives on the significance of spiritual journeys for women’s lives and contemporary society. It sheds light on the social, cultural, and personal impacts of religious and spiritual tourism to understand the motivations of women tourists. The study offers theoretical and practical insights into the evolving role of women in spiritual tourism and provides recommendations for next-step research.