Political Pilgrimage and the Wailing Wall Phenomenon: Political Nostalgia, Parasocial Attachment, and Visit Intention to Joko Widodo’s Former Residence in Indonesia

Abstract

The novelty of this study lies in the introduction of political pilgrimage as an emotionally driven form of political tourism centred on a former president’s residence, integrating political nostalgia, parasocial attachment, political loyalty, emotional wellness, collective identity, and visit intention within a single framework. This study aims to examine the relationships among these constructs in the context of the “Wailing Wall of Solo” phenomenon associated with the former residence of Joko Widodo in Solo, Indonesia. Data were collected through an online survey involving 859 eligible respondents selected using a self-selected sampling approach. The data were analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis, reliability testing, Average Variance Extracted, and Structural Equation Modelling. The findings revealed that political nostalgia significantly influenced parasocial attachment and political loyalty. Parasocial attachment further strengthened political loyalty, which subsequently enhanced emotional wellness and collective identity. Emotional wellness also positively affected collective identity, while collective identity emerged as the strongest predictor of visit intention. These results demonstrate that political tourism is not solely motivated by historical curiosity but is also shaped by emotional attachment, collective memories, and social belonging. The study contributes to the political tourism literature by extending the concept of political pilgrimage and highlighting the psychological mechanisms underlying visits to politically significant places. Furthermore, the findings support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through tourism diversification, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the preservation of political heritage, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through the promotion of civic memory, social cohesion, and democratic engagement.