L2) The Bountiful: Mormon Tourism on Islamic Land? Examining LDS Church members intentions toward Arabia

Abstract

The Sultanate of Oman has gathered interest from scholars due to its potential connections to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (often referred to as the LDS Church or Mormon Church). Discussions have centred around the narrative of prophet Lehi, who constructed a ship to reach the promised land, as described in the Book of Mormon. This account details his journey to a land referred to as Bountiful during his exodus from Jerusalem. Recent explorations suggest that Khor Kharfot in the Dhofar region may be the most plausible location of Bountiful and could even contain remnants of a sanctuary that resembles the structure of Solomon\u27s Temple. Although pilgrimage is not an official tenet of the LDS Church, many LDS church members engage in tourism by visiting sites of Mormon religious heritage, including temples, biblical sites, locations associated with the Book of Mormon, and historical sites of the church. The emergence of Mormon tour operators highlights the growing interest among LDS members in exploring Mormon faith-related sites around the world. Despite this growing trend, there has been little scholarly work examining LDS travel behaviours, motivations, and experiences. This paper aims to address that gap by investigating the interest and awareness of LDS members regarding the potential location of Bountiful in Oman, as well as their travel intentions toward the Arabian Peninsula. A quantitative survey was conducted, gathering 100 valid responses through an online questionnaire. Preliminary findings indicate that LDS Church members feel a connection to the Lehi narrative and express interest in traveling to Arabia to immerse themselves in their religious roots and discover new experiences; especially if archaeological remains of temples are uncovered. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the intersection of faith and tourism while offering policy recommendations aimed at promoting Oman’s rich cultural heritage, which encompasses elements of Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and contemporary religious history