Yom al- Abbas

Ritual tourism, as a reflection of local identity and culture, plays a significant role in shaping and renewing the tourism experience. This study aims to explain the effect of ritual tourism (with emphasis on the Yom al-Abbas ceremony in Zanjan) on the construction of place attachment among tourists. The research is descriptive-explanatory in nature and applied in terms of purpose. Data were collected through a standard questionnaire based on four indicators of place attachment: emotional attachment, place identity, place dependence, and social bonding, using a sample of 95 tourists selected through convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.1 through descriptive statistics, stepwise regression, path analysis, and Pearson correlation test. The findings indicate that the components of place attachment are interconnected and significantly related. Tourists had relatively homogeneous attitudes toward the ritual event, and the overall effect of the indicators on place attachment construction was strong (R=0.99). Furthermore, emotional attachment had the greatest impact on place identity, and social bonding showed the highest influence on place dependence. In conclusion, ritual tourism can effectively contribute to strengthening individuals' sense of belonging to a place and provide favorable conditions for the construction of place identity and social cohesion.