Send stressed employees to Lourdes-style spiritual retreats, say experts
Companies should consider sending employees on pilgrimage-style “emotional” retreats to counter workplace stress, scientists have said.
A new study found that travelling to spiritual destinations such as Lourdes in France had significant therapeutic benefits.
Three years’ of interviews with visitors to the Catholic site also found that men benefit more than women because they are more “straight-jacketed” at home.
The research by the Universities of Lancaster and Strathclyde identified the concept of “therapeutic servicescapes”.
Doctor Leighanne Higgins, who led the research, said travel firms in Britain should consider offering company retreats to pilgrimages to prevent employees from burning out.
"Our research is helpful because it can show how businesses can cultivate emotions to promote well-being, especially when society tells us these emotions should not be displayed or shared in public,” she said.
"Therapeutic servicescapes could be helpful for personal and/or company retreats or employee training to help with workplace stress, anxiety and mental health well-being.
"Likewise they could be helpful for companies wishing to build such a service experience to help promote emotional well-being.
"Religious landscapes have a unique foothold in the market, and it is likely that we will see demand for pilgrimages continue to increase."
Dr Hamilton added that “emotional tourism” to Lourdes-style destinations contrast with the traditional model of therapeutic travelling, which is more closely related to escaping emotional suffering rather than confronting it.
“These environments are seen as safe spaces”, she said.
"We are witnessing unprecedented levels of mental health issues and our research uncovers consumers dealing with emotional suffering beyond traditional and private therapy sessions."
Lourdes has become one of the most significant pilgrimage sites for Roman Catholics since 1958, when Bernadette Soubirous, who was later canonized, claimed to have seen the Marian apparitions, the supernatural appearance of the Virgin Mary.
The small market town hosts approximately six million visitors a year.
