New survey estimates millions of Americans want faith-based vacations

Globus Releases Results of First-Ever Study of International Religious Travelers
November 1, 2007 http://www.globusfaith.com/

For many, traveling abroad is a spiritual experience - visiting magnificent cathedrals, ancient temples and other historic religious sites can have a profound effect on anyone that encounters them. Increasingly, though, Americans are planning international vacations specifically designed to explore their religion and deepen their faith. While many experts agree this is one of the fastest growing vacation trends, until now the travel industry had no way to quantify these spiritual sojourners.

Today, Globus, the world's leader in escorted travel, unveiled the findings of an extensive study about the U.S. market for international religious vacations. Most notably, the Globus Religious Travel Study (conducted by Menlo Consulting Group, Inc.) revealed that one-third of all international travelers - or 15.7 million U.S. adults - are likely to take a religious vacation in the future. In fact, one in 10 international pleasure travelers have already been abroad on a faith-based vacation - or approximately 4.5 million people. The total market of past and potential religious travelers in the U.S. numbers approximately 16.6 million people. The results of this survey fall closely in line with the phenomenon Globus has experienced since introducing a religious travel division (http://www.globusfaith.com/) in 2004. In 2007, year-to-date bookings have increased 74 percent over 2006 figures.

As the first and only large tour operator to have embraced the spirit of faith-based vacations, Globus has steadily increased its religious vacation offerings and now boasts dozens of departure dates throughout the year. "There's no doubt that religious vacations will continue to be a booming trend in the travel industry," said Mike Schields, director of group sales and emerging markets for the Globus family of brands. "One driving factor is how meaningful these trips can be for the traveler. Our study showed that eight in 10 past religious travelers plan to repeat the experience in the future - it's just an incredible testament to the personal enlightenment that many have on faith-based vacations."

Visiting spiritual sites is an obvious activity for religious travelers. However, according to the survey, 42 percent of potential religious travelers say it's not all about pious activities - they want variety, with a 50/50 mix of religious and non-religious activities planned for the itinerary. Also revealed in the Globus Religious Travel Study - past and potential religious travelers aren't the only ones interested in exploring the roots of their faith on vacation. More than 40 percent of all American international pleasure travelers - or 20.1 million people - have at least some desire to get in touch with their religious heritage when they travel.

Other data highlights include:
-- Spirituality in numbers: Religious travelers prefer group travel. Three-quarters of potential religious travelers would opt for an escorted group tour, while fewer than one in five would choose a cruise or independent travel.

-- Who are religious travelers? A majority of religious travelers are well-educated - more than 60 percent have graduated college or attended/completed graduate school. More than half have a household income of over $75,000, and the vast majority (70 percent) are married.

-- Faith at home: Half of all religious travelers are Protestant, and one-quarter are Roman Catholic. More than two-thirds of religious travelers say they are active in their church, temple or synagogue - and nearly half say they volunteer in their local communities.

-- What are the hot religious destinations? Israel tops the list (35 percent) of countries that travelers have already visited on a faith-driven trip, followed by Italy (12 percent) and Greece (11 percent). Israel is the most cited (54 percent) desirable destination for religious trips. Italy is also a top contender of desirable destinations, with 41 percent, along with England (28 percent).

The announcement of Globus' Religious Travel Study comes alongside the announcement of its 2008 faith-based vacation offerings. Catering mostly to Catholic and Protestant/Christian denominations, Globus has increased its departures by 60 percent for 2008. Fitting with the study results, travelers on a Globus religious vacation can balance visits to spiritual sites with shopping, entertainment and exploration. They also receive faith-based insight and story-telling from a special team of Globus Tour Directors.

Highlights of the 2008 offerings include:

-- Legacy of Pope John Paul II (7 days): This week-long vacation offers travelers an intimate look into the life of the beloved pope. Travelers will experience Pope John Paul II's hometown, visiting his birthplace and boyhood home before traveling south through Poland. Other highlights of this tour include visits to Warsaw, Czestochowa and Krakow, all important sites in the Pope's life. This trip also includes a visit to Auschwitz with a stop at the remains the former concentration camp and a martyrdom museum. (Priced from $1,249 - land only(a))

-- Jordan & Egypt in the Bible (10 days): This vacation begins in Cairo, Egypt, with sightseeing at the Great Pyramids and Giza's Sphinx - accompanied by a personal Egyptologist. Then, travelers continue on to Mt. Sinai - where Moses received the Ten Commandments - and the Dead Sea, among other biblical sites. (Priced from $1,649 - land only(a), including intra-tour flight)

-- Christian England & the World of C.S. Lewis (9 days): Arriving in London as their first stop on the vacation, travelers will visit the city's many famous cathedrals before enjoying excursions to Canterbury and Oxford. This stay in Oxford allows travelers a glimpse into Lewis' past with visits to his colleges and favorite pubs. The nine-day trip concludes with a stop in Cambridge where the writer also lived and taught. (Priced from $1,889 - land only(a))

-- Footsteps of Apostle Paul (10 days): Globus' most popular religious vacation, this trip affords travelers the opportunity to visit sites where the Apostle Paul delivered sermons and conducted personal pilgrimages. Travelers will visit Greece and Turkey, stopping in cities such as Corinth and Philippi, famed for the letters and teachings that Paul addressed to them. In addition to seeing religious sites, travelers will also experience a three-day cruise, with visits to the islands of Mykonos and Rhodes - where the apostle landed in 51 A.D. (Priced from $1,729 - land/cruise only(a))

-- Classic Shrines of Italy (9 days): A travelers favorite, this vacation offers a grand tour of Italian religious sites. The tour's first stop in Rome includes visits to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, as well as a tour of the Colosseum, a site of Christian martyrdom. As the trip continues, travelers will sightsee in various Italian villages en route to Assisi to experience the life of St. Francis. (Priced from $1,739 - land only(a))

-- New! Oberammergau 2010 Vacation - Catholic Germany & Alps (9 days): Don't be fooled by the date - it's not too early to reserve a seat at this world-famous famous Passion Play. Every 10 years, thousands of tourists descend on the humble German village of Oberammergau. Since 1634, the villagers have been performing this play that portrays the Passion of Christ - from the entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. The performances and the hotels sell out every season, but vacationers who travel with Globus are guaranteed first-class seats and accommodations. Before reaching Oberammergau, though, travelers begin on this vacation in Munich. Then, following the Passion Play, they travel through the Alps with stops in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, before visiting the historic cathedrals in Cologne and cruising on the Rhine River. (Priced from $2,669 - land only(a))

For more information about Globus' 2008 religious vacations, please visit http://www.globusfaith.com/. Globus' Religious Travel Study was conducted as part of Menlo Consulting Group's TravelStyles(R) USA 2007-2008 research program. For complete results, or for more information about methodology, please contact Ian Jeffries at ian_jeffries@cohnwolfe.com or (310) 967-2957. (a) Consumers can call 1-866-313-2855 for air-inclusive pricing.

About Globus
Globus is the world's leader in escorted travel with 80 years' experience sharing the world's stories. Globus offers an array of choices with vacation to six continents, visiting over 65 countries, with seven travel styles to choose from. For seven years in a row, Globus has been selected by Recommend Magazine as the best tour operator to Europe, and a top finalist for North America, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Globus was also acknowledged as Travel Weekly's 2006 Readers' Choice for best international tour operator, as well as best tour operator to Asia and South Pacific. The privately held company has offices worldwide with its U.S. headquarters in Littleton, Colo. Globus vacations include: deluxe, superior first class or first class hotels; daily breakfasts, many dinners; professional Tour Directors or Local Hosts; sightseeing; transportation; hotel taxes; service charges and baggage handling. Consumers can book reservations or request a 2008 Globus Religious Vacations brochure by seeing a preferred travel agent, calling toll free 1-866-313-2855 or visiting http://www.globusfaith.com/. About Menlo Consulting Group, Inc. MCG is a strategy consulting and marketing research firm renowned for its expertise in global travel and tourism. MCG helps organizations gain a competitive edge through custom-designed branding and strategy consulting and research projects, as well as through TravelStyles(R), the industry's most respected program of multi-client research with international travelers. For more information, contact us at 650-941-4458 or info@menloconsulting.com. www.menloconsulting.com/ Survey Estimates Millions of

Americans Want Faith-Based Vacations
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Cohn & Wolfe Ian Jeffries / Katie Wittenburg 310.967.2957 / 310.967.2952 ian_jeffries@cohnwolfe.com katie_wittenburg@cohnwolfe.com