Experiential attributes and benefits of transnational festivals

Abstract

Despite their significant impact on the well-being of immigrants, the destination image of host countries, and preservation of heritage, transnational festivals have received limited research attention. This study aims to explore transnational festival attributes and their experiential benefits using a constructivist grounded theory approach to analyze two major Ethiopian transnational festivals that take place in the USA. Based on the research findings the study formulates five main domains of festival attributes: transnational religion, homeland atmosphere, volunteering, homeland people, and convenience. These attributes allow visitors to gain educational, spiritual, esthetic, social cohesion and volunteering experiential benefits, which are different from those of conventional festivals. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed along with study limitations and directions for future research.