Spiritual Tourism Without Staging the Sacred: Evidence from Tanjung Puting

Abstract

Spiritual tourism increasingly encompasses contemplative encounters with nature and culture, yet the development of spiritually themed products in protected-area destinations raises questions about cultural authority, conservation, and commercialisation. This study explores whether an ecotourism destination in Tanjung Puting, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, could support a community-sensitive spiritual tourism offer without transforming sacred practices into visitor performances. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach draws on the authors' existing field-study summary comprising four key-informant interviews and a purposive survey of 100 visitors. Qualitative findings identify two potential interpretive resources: a locally described reflective account of orangutan–forest relationships and the ethical meaning of community practices associated with collective protection and harmony. Survey summaries indicate that 82% of respondents expressed interest in a nature-and-culture-oriented spiritual package, 78% favoured forest reflection, 65% were interested in cultural interpretation, and 71% preferred a three-day, two-night itinerary. A reported price-interest interval was IDR 3.5–5.0 million, although individual price distributions are unavailable. Integrating supply-side accounts and visitor preferences, the paper develops a provisional model of consent-based interpretation, low-impact contemplation, community governance, and conservation-compatible delivery. Its contribution is not a claim that sacred rituals are tourism assets, but an approach to designing experiences around publicly shareable values while reserving restricted knowledge and ceremonies for cultural custodians. Findings suggest potential product–market alignment but do not establish commercial feasibility, community-wide consent, or long-term ecological outcomes. The proposed framework requires participatory validation and a carefully monitored pilot before implementation.