Expectations & Satisfaction of Pilgrims at Holy Destinations – A Case of Murudeshwara

This study investigates the relationship between tourists’ overall satisfaction at a pilgrimage destination. Murudeshwara Shiva temple has been used as a case study. Since the get-go, individuals have gone far and wide trying to pick up certification of their confidence, and to respect the grounds where their religious convictions started. Spiritual tourism, or religious tourism, is a journey that is exclusively or strongly caused by religious reasons. Holy tourism is the fertile ground for exercising cultures and talents, having special kinds of connection between the tourist and host population, amongst the traveler and the host environment. Other than the holy features, looked at from the larger point of view, pilgrimage involves, expedition, visiting different places and, in some cases, traveling by air or road etc. and shopping, almost everything a tourist does. Throughout such visits, tourists require assistance and benefits at, the spiritual destination which is provided by private agencies, ministry and concerning administration of the holy place. It is imperative for tourism service providers to understand the diverseness of their future consumers and to try to furnish to the needs of all population sections. A structured questionnaire was used to seek responses from the tourists during their visit to the destination. The results indicate that the tourists were very satisfied with temple management and infrastructure. The local authorities need to work towards improving supports service which is a necessary factor in determining the overall satisfaction of the tourist.