A Socio-cultural Perspective on Yoga Tourism

Yoga has become an increasingly widespread activity, also becoming popular as a form of tourism. Many Westerners travel to the roots of yoga, to destinations in India, where yoga originated, or join yoga retreats in other countries. This is also the case in Turkey where yoga has become a well-known activity. Despite the growing popularity of yoga tourism, there is a dearth of studies on this topic, especially in relation to its socio-cultural impacts. Therefore the purpose of this investigation is to bring light on socio-cultural aspects of yoga tourism. The findings show that there are three types of yoga trips: (1) yoga focused, (2) cultural tourism focused, and (3) wellness focused. These include different emphases and varied experiences, as well as a diverse level of community interaction and potential benefits for the locals. The research also identifies some issues such as authenticity, especially in root destinations.