WRTA April Newsletter

The following is a sampling of the April newsletter for the World Religious Travel Association members. If you would like to be added to the free monthly newsletter, simly sign up for free membership at www.religioustravelassociation.com

Religious tourism in the news
Faith-based tourism continues to be a major topic in travel, religious, and secular news outlets. The Religion News Service carried the story of "Companies see increased interest in spiritual tours". The cover story of the entire Rocky Mountain News (Colorado's #1 newspaper) on Easter Weekend was about Christian tourism with its feature article "In the footsteps of the faithful"The story was then followed up with NBC affiliate 9News Even local newspapers are covering faith-based tourism, including Indiana's Bloomington The Pantagraph with its recent story of "Holy sites draw hundreds of tours, pilgrimages"

Faith-based cruising sails on
As recently reported in the Los Angeles Daily, church and religious groups embarking on cruises is at an all-time high. Many Christian and faith-based organizations are taking their retreats and Biblical seminars to the high seas of the Caribbean and Alaska, as well as down the waterways of Europe. Group sizes range from several-hundred to full-ship charters of several thousand. Some of the biggest Christian music groups, artists, speakers, and celebrities are joining these trips. Cruise lines, cruise agencies, and passengers were all interviewed in this excellent article. To learn more about today's world of faith-based cruising, you can read the full article athttp://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.vvtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailynews.com%2Fbusiness%2Fci_5514668

New study reveals religious meetings and events key to local economies
Communities that host church retreats and conventions can count their blessings and the dollars the faithful pump into local economies, a new University of Florida study finds. Learn more about the study by visiting http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.xvtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.ufl.edu%2F2007%2F04%2F12%2Freligious-tourism

Subscribe or advertise in top religious travel magazines
If you're looking for a top faith-based travel publication to either subscribe to or advertise in, look no further. With the tremendous growth of religious tourism in the past five years, there are now three top faith-based and group magazines:
Christian Travel & Cruise Guide: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.6vtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantravelandcruiseguide.com%2F
Group Leisure Travel: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.4vtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisuregrouptravel.com%2F
Going on Faith: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.cwtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goingonfaith.com%2F
To learn more about substantial discounts you can receive when subscribing or advertising in the above publications (as a WRTA member), simply visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.dwtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.religioustravelassociation.com%2Fdirectory_publications.html.

Switzerland Tourism gears efforts towards faith-based community
Switzerland Tourism is the latest tourist board to gear its marketing efforts to the faith-based community. With its rich religious heritage, Switzerland is home to many sites related to the Protestant Reformation, Catholic faith, as well as the Amish and Mennonite faiths among others. In Geneva people can visit places related to John Calvin including St. Peter's Cathedral where he preached, as well as Reformation Monument and the new International Reformation Museum. For more information visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.bvtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myswitzerland.com%2F or http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.ewtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.religioustravelassociation.com%2Fdirectory_tourism_offices_worldwide.html

WRTA launches monthly awards program - and reveals first winners
And speaking of religious travel publications, in April WRTA debuted its new monthly magazine award program. Members are now eligible each month to win a subscription to one of the following top faith-based and group travel publications:
Going on Faith: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.cwtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goingonfaith.com%2F
Group Leisure Travel: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.4vtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisuregrouptravel.com%2F
Christian Travel & Cruise Guide: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.6vtea4bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantravelandcruiseguide.com%2F

Do you know a church travel planner or religious travel group leader?
If the answer is yes - let them know they may be qualified to receive free membership within WRTA, as well as a free copy of the forthcoming book The Christian Travelers' Guide to Vacations, Cruises, Retreats & Much More (to be published by Thomas Nelson). To be eligible for the complimentary membership and book, simply have the church travel planner or religious travel group leader fill out the application on the homepage of http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zgus75bab.0.n474x6bab.qwhlt6bab.85&ts=S0242&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.religioustravelassociation.com%2F.

Submit your company news and announcements to WRTA
Remember that as a registered member you can submit your organization news, events and announcements to WRTA at any time. WRTA will in turn distribute your news information via its monthly newsletter, to media members, and/or post on the association website.

Forward this newsletter to your friends, family, pastor/religious leader, & church members
Members and non-members alike can receive this newsletter for free. Forward this email to your friends, family, pastor, religious leader and church members and travel planners. Also, let them know about the monthly magazine giveaway and free cruise drawing this fall!