AKIELS Model Analysis of Hindu Spiritual Tourism Branding

The Case of the Self-Healing Program through the Melukat Ritual at Tirta Empul Temple, Bali

Abstract

The presence of spiritual tourism in the form of a hugging process, known as a self-cleansing ritual for Hindus, has now become much sought after by local and foreign tourists. This Melukat ritual process provides benefits, namely self-healing from stress, trauma, depression, and so on, just by going through several believed stages. Tirta Empul Temple is the most popular Melukat location for tourists in Bali. The queue for those who want to carry out the Melukat process is always long and snakes every day, not only during the holiday season or holidays. This study focuses on observing tourist self-healing program activities through the Melukat ritual using the AKIELS Models analysis knife. The findings show that Tirta Empul Temple, in the minds of tourists, is attached to the Melukat ritual, which is believed to be self-healing for tourists because it provides calming benefits from stress, trauma, and depression. Tirta Empul Temple has become embedded in the minds of tourists, which can be represented by the many visitors who come to do the ritual Melukat almost every day. This study produces an in-depth understanding of Hindu spiritual tourism branding by dissecting the aspects of brand awareness, knowledge, image, experience, loyalty, and spirituality in the tourist self-healing program through the Melukat ritual in Bali.