June 25, 2008

Getting Religious About Meetings

Getting Religious About Meetings
6/24/2008 2:54:46 PM
Website article link:
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=10840

By Patrice A. Kelly

The religious meetings market is a multi-billion dollar segment with vast potential since they require a variety of venues, love attractions, and can make a major impact on yearly revenue. As a growing marketplace with widespread demographics, frequent events and variety of meeting sizes, the religious meetings market should definitely be on your radar.

Although exact figures are hard to pin down, indications are that the scope of the religious meetings market is immense. The World Tourism Organization estimates the international religious travel market is worth more than $1 billion domestically and $18 billion worldwide. However, there are indications that those numbers may be a bit low.

According to Religious Conference Managers Association (RCMA) executive director and CEO Dwayne Woodring, in 2006 the Church of the Nazarene Quadrennial brought in $40,460,000 to the host city, the Assemblies of God World Triennial $25,200,000, the Church of God Biennial $22,800,000, and the Seventh Day Adventists generated “an eye-popping $62,000,000.”

At least180 million Americans are members of the faith-based community, and there are more than 400,000 churches and religious institutions in America. According to research by City University of New York, there are 100 million Protestants in the U.S., 67 million Catholics, and 4 to 5 million Jews (Buddhists, Moslems and other faiths add up to less than one million each).

In addition to large annual conferences, committee meetings and seminars make up a significant portion of U.S. religious meetings. RCMA organizations held 6,094 such meetings in 2005, 2,941 board meetings, and 2,482 other types of meetings.

The market sees continuous growth, as the number of meetings conducted by RCMA members increased for the third year in a row in 2005, by 8.2 percent to 17,545 meetings. 14.8 million people attended meetings conducted by RCMA members in 2007, compared to only 4.5 million people in 1997.

According to Woodring, the market is practically immune to fluctuations in the general economy and the travel industry. “The religious market is recession-proof,” states Woodring. “Regardless of world affairs, good times or bad, war or peace, religious organizations are the ones which continue to attract young and old alike.”

Religious meetings are a boon during hotel distress periods, according to Harry Schmidt, CMP, President of Christian Life College and meeting planner for eight other church-based organizations. “Many faith-based and religious groups do a lot of spontaneous scheduling. They can put a piece of business together in 30 days or less and [organize] sometimes faster than many corporate groups can.”

Religious meetings have a greater economic impact on a region than just hotel revenues. Religious conferences often attract entire families who devote time not only to spiritual matters but also to amusement and sightseeing attractions. “Religious meetings spend a lot of money because they bring significant others,” says Bill Williams, vice president of diversity sales for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.

The latest RCMA survey finds that religious meetings book all types of facilities:

Downtown venues continue to be the top choice for religious events. For the past 13 years, downtown hotels have been the most preferred sites, hosting 17.2% of denominational and religious organization meetings.
Conference centers have become the second most popular choice of RCMA planners. In 2007, 16.6% of all religious meetings were held in conference centers.
Suburban hotels booked 12.8% of the business in 2007, up from 12.4% in 2006.
Camps and retreat centers continue to be popular, attracting 11.2% of the business.
Convention and civic centers decreased in popularity with 11.1% of meetings, down from 11.6% in 2006.
Resort hotels attracted 11.1 of the business, a decrease from 11.3% in 2006.
Airport hotels hosted 10.5% of the meetings in 2007, up slightly from 10.4% in 2006.
Colleges and universities continue to represent an important option for religious meeting planners, with 7.6% of the 2007 business.
According to the Religious Market Consulting group, the religious market purchases both “religious” and secular products/services, and is also extremely loyal. Schmidt adds, “When they connect with a good hotel chain or specific hotel or property, the religious market tends to be very loyal to a brand. If you get religious meeting planners to really connect with local staff and hotels, you’ll not only see repeat business at those properties, but they’ll carry that brand loyalty when they move on to other areas.”

When marketing to the religious meetings market, the basics are best and word of mouth is critical. “Number one, when you advertise, go to the grassroots,” says Williams. “I go to my locals and I ask for local support. I meet with my locals and I plant the seed that we should host it, with their assistance. We work with the locals and by the time we make our presentation to the national body we have already gotten the support of the local body. You just need local support.”

“I think the biggest thing a bureau or a hotel needs to understand when soliciting the religious market is they need to do their homework beforehand,” says Yvonne Board, senior sales manager for the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Because with different religious organizations you have different religious practices, such as [some] organizations don’t eat meat. Some religious organizations have to have a room that has no chairs in it because they are constantly on their knees, so the flooring has to have a specific type of padding. Be aware of those types of issues before calling on somebody and asking them for their business.”








June 18, 2008

Jordan Tourism Religious Travel Update

Jordan Tourism Religious Travel Update
Volume 88

Selling religious travel products makes good business sense for an increasing number of travel professionals, so if you are not currently selling faith-based travel to Jordan but are actively exploring and developing new products that meet the needs of the ever-changing marketplace, please read on – you might decide that this is the year for you to expand into this dynamic and growing sector, and Jordan could be your ticket to success. And whether you are new to selling Jordan religious itineraries or a long-time partner in faith-based travel to Jordan, we have many opportunities to co-op with you to market/advertise your Jordan religious product.

As the April Destinations of the World “Flight of Faith” cover story on religious travel reports, the global trend is now strong enough for many countries to start focusing on faith travel as part of their national strategy and for hotel companies to develop new properties in significant faith centers. Jordan certainly is working hard to accommodate the needs of today’s religious travelers and to attract visitors from North America. In 2007 alone, JTBNA religious ads – targeting Catholics; Mainline Protestants; Evangelical Protestants and Charismatic/Pentecostal Protestants – reached audiences with a cumulative circulation of 1.2 million. JTBNA also generated more than $750,000 in editorial media placements in religious media outlets, exposing a wide variety of Christians in North America – potential travelers – to stories on the people and places of Jordan.

Two potential ways to partner with us to put Jordan religious travel into your success column:

JTBNA 2008 Religious Market Co-Op Opportunities
JTBNA would like to work with you on mutually beneficial marketing/advertising projects to promote your Jordan religious travel products, such as:
• Advertising
• Direct mail
• Special dedicated websites for your Jordan product
• Brochure development
• Got another idea? Let us hear from you.

If you would like to partner with us to develop a religious itinerary or to increase sales of your existing Jordan religious product(s) – please send a detailed proposal (including expected ROI).

JTBNA Preferred Provider Program for Jordan Religious Travel Experts
Our new Preferred Provider Program for Jordan Religious Travel Experts includes these benefits:

• Designation as Religious Travel Expert in JTBNA marketing/communications vehicles.
• Advertisement of your Jordan religious itinerary on our website.
• Opportunity to partner with us during the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2008* (Oct.29 - Nov. 1) at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. (Booth space will be limited and distributed on a first-come basis.)
Qualifications include:
• Jordan Religious Travel Expert Training should be completed in 2008 (senior marketing and sales staff should complete our virtual seminars or schedule/attend in-person workshops).
• At least one Jordan-only religious itinerary with a minimum of six nights. This itinerary must be featured in your primary catalogue/brochure targeting the religious market.

*As highlighted in our recent bulletin, JTBNA was invited in 2007 to be a charter member of WRTA. Jordan was chosen as the sole Holy Land destination to be represented on the Charter Member board simply because it is a unique, one-stop Holy Land destination that meets the needs of today’s religious travelers. Jordan combines the holy sites desired by traditional religious pilgrims with the multi-dimensional experiences (cultural, adventure, eco-, health and wellness, spa/retreat, etc.) that an increasing number of 21st century religious travelers demand. Other members of the elite, invitation-only charter membership group include The World’s Leading Cruise Lines (Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and Yachts of Seabourn); Switzerland Tourism; The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Christian Travel Finder and Trafalgar Tours.
Jordan’s Charter membership brings with it top positioning at the first annual World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2008 (www.religioustravelexpo.com).
Here’s to an exciting year in the faith tourism industry, and to increased sales of your Jordan religious products (or to a successful launch of your new Jordan religious itinerary)!
To learn more about religious travel to Jordan or if you have any questions about information in this update, visit www.visitjordan.com

TRAFALGAR PRESENTS JOURNEYS OF FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY

Trafalgar has released a brochure highlighting their new expertly designed religious travel experiences, Journeys of Faith and Spirituality.

The brochure highlights a sampling of custom group itineraries, featuring visits to some of the most inspirational and important holy sites in Israel, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and France.

Each journey will be escorted by a professional Tour Director specially chosen for their knowledge and expertise in the religious aspects of the areas being visited. Sample itineraries featured include a 9-day Land of the Bible tour of Israel, 10- and 14-day Missionary Journeys of Paul to Turkey and Greece, a 10-day Christian Pilgrimage in Italy and a 12-day Catholic Tour of Portugal, Spain & France. Other custom-designed faith-based itineraries are also referenced in the brochure.

Travel Agents and Groups wishing to design their own custom itineraries should contact Trafalgar for more information. Brochures can be ordered through the local Trafalgar Business Development Manager.

On a Trafalgar vacation all the organizational hassles are taken care of, so each passenger can truly relax and delight in the experience with friendly fellow travelers. Guests enjoy accommodations in first class, well-located hotels; the services of a Trafalgar professional Tour Director and driver throughout; and fascinating sightseeing with expert local guides. The Trafalgar experience is steeped in the history, customs and culture of each exciting destination, ensuring no one misses out on any of the hidden treasures. It really is a case of "Dream. Pack. And leave…the rest to us."

Trafalgar Tours was established in 1947 and has 61 years of experience providing exceptional worldwide vacations to Europe, Britain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and China.

For more information and reservations, travel agents can contact Trafalgar’s Business Development Managers at (800) 626-6604 or Trafalgar’s Group Department at (800) 626-6603. Group Leaders can call Steven Ferry at (330) 475-6193.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
June 2008
Contact Arnelle Kendall
www.trafalgar.com (561) 659-2174
Email: arnellek@aol.com

Travel Weekly’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2007 voted Trafalgar
‘Best International Tour Operator’

June 17, 2008

World Religious Travel Expo will shape new era in faith tourism

World Religious Travel Expo will shape new era in faith tourism
6/16/2008

LITTLETON, CO – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) will host the first annual World Religious Travel Expo, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008, in Orlando, FL. A historic and unprecedented event, the tradeshow and educational conference will feature a gathering of today’s “Who’s Who” in the 300 million religious traveler market. Hundreds of travel wholesalers, suppliers, media, tourist boards, agencies, group planners, travel ministry leaders and pastors are expected from throughout North America and around the world.

Current sponsors and exhibitors include prominent organizations such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Trafalgar Tours, Collette Vacations, MTS Travel, Raptim Travel, Unitours, Group IST, 206 Tours, Jordan Tourism Board of North America, Switzerland Tourism, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Egypt Tourist Authority, Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism, Rail Europe, Passport Health, WordSpring Discovery Center, and Christian Travel Finder among others.

“Expo 2008 is the most important event of the year for any organization, group planner, or pastor involved in the promotion or participation of faith-based travel,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The World Religious Travel Expo will serve as a pivot point between the Old and New Era of faith tourism. The result will be the emergence of a new generation of leaders in faith tourism, as well the launch of many new travel ministry programs.”

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event will provide the first world-class forum for travel suppliers, destinations, wholesalers, agencies and church travel planners to come face-to-face, develop and find new products and services, and build long-term relationships. All market segments will be represented at the Expo, including pilgrimage, cruising, missions, leisure vacations, attractions, conferences, retreats, Christian camps, and volunteer vacations, among others. Exhibitors will include tour operators, tourist boards, cruise lines, transportation companies, airlines, travel agencies, event planning services, hotels and accommodations, missionary agencies, travel insurance companies and faith-based destinations among others.

“As a Holy Land destination that provides a one-stop location to meet all the needs of faith-based travelers – from cruising to adventure, retreats to study tours and all the segments in between – we are delighted to sponsor the WRTA Expo,” said Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board of North America (JTBNA), a WRTA charter member. “We look forward to working with WRTA to showcase fresh and unique travel opportunities for this dynamic and growing industry.”

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) already has announced two of the keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines. The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. Costa Cruise Lines represents one of the newest and most popular vacation choices of today’s faith-based consumer….cruising. Today, hundreds of churches and religious organizations embark each year on cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, among other places.

The Educational Conference will provide the most comprehensive learning program ever offered on faith tourism – for both trade and group planners. Through leading industry speakers, dynamic presentations, panel discussions, interactive break-out sessions, seminars and peer networking forums, the trade participants can expand their knowledge of the opportunities in the new niche markets within faith tourism. Group planners will attend product seminars hosted by travel industry experts, while also learning how to enrich and expand their travel ministry programs.

The Expo will be hosted Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the renowned Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The top-rated facility and environment provides an exceptional forum for networking and exhibiting. More than 100 exhibitors and more than 400 participants are expected at the unprecedented event.

To learn more or register online, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288. For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit www.religioustravelassociation.com.

###

About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com.

June 16, 2008

Chrisitan visitors help Israel tourism grow to record 2.8 million visitors

Christian visitors help Israel tourism grow Jewish state on pace to receive 2.8 million tourists this year, a record
By Robert W. Gee
Austin-American Statesman International Staff
Monday, June 16, 2008
Find this article at: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/06/16/0616israeltourism.html

Christian visitors help Israel tourism growAustin American-Statesman - Austin,TX,USA"It's been incredible, and it happened all of a sudden," said David Frank, a tour operator who has specialized in Christian travel to Israel since 1971. ...

June 14, 2008

Israeli Tourism Peaks, Despite Dollar Slump

Israeli Tourism Peaks, Despite Dollar Slump
Website article link: http://www.travelindustrywire.com/article33013.html

With so many of Israel's visitors arriving from the United States you may think there's a real slump in tourism numbers, given the performance of the dollar. But despite the odds, Israel's tourism chiefs are talking of 2008 as a record year.
The U.S. is heading into a recession, the dollar is weak and Israel is grappling with the usual security concerns on its various borders - but the summer of 2008 is shaping up to be one of the holy land's best in terms of tourism.As of April, 2008 was already a record year for tourism in Israel, with a 41 percent increase in tourists over April 2007 and 26% more than in April 2006, according to the Ministry of Tourism. During the first four months of 2008, nearly one million tourists arrived in Israel, leading the ministry to predict that it will meet its goal of attracting 2.8 million tourists to Israel this year.Moreover, the number of Americans visiting Israel is hitting an all-time high, with 85,000 American tourists during January and February, and many more expected during the course of Israel's 60th anniversary year, which began in early May, according to Arie Sommer, Israel's tourism commissioner for North and South America.
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'The majority of tourists to Israel this summer are American, and the [weakened] dollar doesn't affect them one way or another,' says Mark Feldman, the American-born owner of Zion Tours Travel Agency in Jerusalem. 'Everything in the Israeli tourist industry is based on dollars, from airline tickets and hotels to half the tourist attractions, so Israel becomes a much cheaper alternative because the dollar goes a lot further here. This, coupled with the security issue which appears to be safer, and they're coming in droves.'Numbers are up, agrees Dr. Ian Stern, a director at Archaeological Seminars, a tour company that offers a popular Dig for a Day program, but the local tourism industry is making less money because the dollar is worth less.'Summer youth groups are cutting back in real terms on their programs, spending less on the national parks that aren't considered must-see sites, because they have to spend more on buses and hotels than they have in the past,' says Stern. 'We have the same number of people coming, but we're making less money. We've raised prices slightly but we don't want to price ourselves out of the market. The drop in the dollar has really hurt,' he adds.Feldman says his figures are up 50% from last summer, despite the fact that clients are now paying at least one-third more for airline tickets, given the rising price of gas. 'They're coming in spite of astronomically high airfares,' says Feldman. 'Even groups are paying $1,600, $1,700 a ticket. It hurts me to quote them these prices.'Andrea and Ben Leshem, from Highland Park, Illinois, spent $1,500 on each of the tickets they purchased for their upcoming trip to Israel in July for themselves and their four children. The high price wasn't a deterrent in deciding to come for two and a half weeks, during which time they'll also be celebrating the bat mitzva of the daughter of family friends, who will also be traveling with them. But they do know another family that chose not to come because of the prices.'The dollar is getting killed, but that's not going away,' says Ben Leshem, an investment banker. 'For us, it's an idealistic trip, and the need to come to Israel is more important than the actual prices.'At the same time, when it came to choosing where they would stay once in Israel, the Leshems chose to rent an apartment in Jerusalem, rather than book into in a hotel, where they would have required two rooms for the family of six. The apartment they rented in the up-scale neighborhood of Rechavia cost $250 per night or $1,400 for the week, while two rooms at the nearby Inbal Hotel would have cost them $600 a night.'When our friends are here for under a week, they prefer to stay in hotels, but as their vacations get longer and longer, they prefer to rent an apartment as a base even if, for example, they spend a few nights up north,' says Leshem.Tourists such as the Leshems make up the bulk of Norman Blaustein's clients for the various vacation rental apartments he owns in Jerusalem, the beachside city of Ashqelon and the suburban town of Efrat, which is located in the West Bank.With prices ranging from $250 a night during the regular season, and as much as 100% higher during the peak holiday seasons, Blaustein has found that he's been able to rent certain apartments for at least nine to 10 months a year, based on location and season.'My apartment outside the Old City is easily rented because of the location,' says Blaustein, who is originally from New York, and now lives in Israel. 'And the Rechavia apartment' - which is being rented for part of the summer by the Leshems - 'should have some very good numbers, including throughout this summer. 'The demand is the same as it's always been, but the dollar is in the sewer so that problem does exist,' he says.Even Blaustein's apartment in Ashqelon, the Mediterranean seaside town that has been hit by several Kassam rockets from Gaza over the last few months, is rented from June through September by a variety of tourists from the U.S., England and France. 'It's in a very safe area - it's not a war zone,' says Blaustein. 'We're right by the marina.'Ashqelon has always been a popular choice for tourists, particularly for French visitors aiming for a sun-and-sea vacation, but it isn't usually a hot spot for tourists looking to explore Israel. Yet the Ashqelon marina has always been a draw for tourist boats and yachts coming through the Suez Canal, just 120 nautical miles from Ashqelon, says marina director, Hillel Reshef.'We're the first modern marina they come across, sometimes after months of sailing,' says Reshef. 'And because our prices are Ashqelon prices,' - Ashqelon is not as expensive as its sister marina in Herzliya, further up the coast - 'we fit their needs.'At the same time, while Ashqelon used to draw some 80% of the boats coming through the Suez Canal, a current spate of piracy on the Red Sea and a U.S. travel advisory on the region has lessened the number of boats arriving recently. The dollar, however, isn't what has affected business. In fact, compared to the euro prices in nearby Turkey, Ashqelon is still considered something of a bargain.'We still get many visitors,' says Reshef, who is currently preparing for the annual Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally. 'We're great for the winter, when we have nearly perfect weather, and that's when we see many of our tourists.'
(C)2008. The Media Line Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

June 10, 2008

Ancient cave found under one of Christianity's oldest churches in Jordan

Ancient cave found under one of Christianity's oldest churches in Jordan
Website article link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25061134

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Archaeologists in Jordan said Monday they have discovered a cave underneath one of the world's oldest churches that may have once been an even more ancient site of Christian worship.
Archaeologist Abdel-Qader Hussein, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, says the cave was unearthed in the northern Jordanian city of Rihab after three months of excavation and shows evidence of early Christian rituals.
The cave lies under St. Georgeous church, built in 230 A.D., making it one of the oldest churches in the world, along with one unearthed in the Jordanian southern port of Aqaba in 1998 and another in Israel discovered in 2005.
Hussein said there was evidence that the underground cave was used as a church by 70 disciples of Jesus in the first century after Christ's death, which would make it the oldest Christian site of worship in the world.
He described a circular worship area with stone seats separated from a living area that had a long tunnel leading to a source of water. He said the early Christians hid there from persecution.
A mosaic inscription on the floor of the later church of St. Georgeous above refers to «the 70 beloved by God and the divine» who founded the worship there.
Thomas Parker, a historian at the University of North Carolina-Raleigh, who led the discovery of the church in Aqaba, said that while he hadn't seen the Rihab site, any such claim should be taken with a degree of caution.
«An extraordinary claim like this requires extraordinary evidence,» he said. «We need to see the artifacts and dating evidence to suggest such an occupation in the 1st century A.D.
Parker asked how archeologists could be certain whether the «cave was actually a center of Christian worship.
The archeologist also noted that mosaics are difficult to date unless there is a precise date in the text of the mosaic inscriptions themselves and typical mosaic inscriptions with Christian themes are from the 5th to 6th century.
«It's quite possible that there was a cave with earlier occupation which was later converted to Christian use. But to make the jump that this was actually used by Christians fleeing Jerusalem in the 1st century A.D. seems like a stretch to me,» Parker said.
Archimandrite Nektarious, Bishop Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Amman hailed the discovery, calling it an «important milestone for Christians all around the world and right here at home.
«It confirms that Christians in this region are not strangers,» he said. «They are real citizens who have always had roots in this region from those days until the present.

June 9, 2008

BAHAMAS TOURISM MINISTER AND COSTA CHIEF TO DELIVER KEYNOTES

WRTA Expo Speakers Represent New Era of Faith Tourism

LITTLETON, Colorado (June 9, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced two of the keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines.

The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. Costa Cruise Lines represents one of the newest and most popular vacation choices of today’s faith-based consumer….cruising. Today, hundreds of churches and religious organizations embark each year on cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, among other places.

“As this fall’s Expo will serve as a pivotal moment in shaping new leaders in faith tourism, we are honored with the confirmation of these distinguished individuals as keynote speakers. Both represent different facets in the ‘new era’ of faith tourism,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association.

The Honorable Neko C. Grant is a Member of Parliament (M.P.) and the Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation. In his capacity, Neko C. Grant oversees one of the world’s most proactive tourist offices involved in faith tourism. The Bahamas has the distinction of being one of the few countries in the world with a fully-dedicated religious travel department, led by director Linville J. Johnson.

Maurice M. Zarmati is President & Chief Executive Officer of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. In 1972, Maurice worked with the legendary Ted Arison and was part of the original team that formed Carnival Cruise Lines. As one of Europe’s top cruise lines, Costa Cruise Lines is seeking to expand its market in North America, especially in the ethnic Italian-American and Latino markets, both of which double as robust faith-based consumers.

The World Religious Travel Expo serves as the most important gathering of the “Who’s Who” in today’s faith tourism marketplace. More than 100 exhibitors and more than 400 participants are expected at the unprecedented event. The Expo will be held October 29-November 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about WRTA EXPO 2008 and pricing discounts for agents and consortiums, or to register online, visit www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288 (or 360-778-3047). For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit http://www.religioustravelassociation.com/.



###

About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com.

June 4, 2008

Puglia, leaving station for religious tourism

Puglia, leaving station for religious tourism
Click here for article

Bari, Italy - Bari and Brindisi will be linked to Lourdes and Fatima(WAPA) - Bari-Palese and Brindisi Papola-Casale airports would be the leaving bases for flights to religious destinations as Lourdes, Fatima and Holy Land soon. The deal has been signed by Opera romana Pellegrinaggi and Opera pellegrinaggi Gargano, while the plans are expected to be shown during a press-conference at Manfredonia Castle (Foggia), on next Friday, June, 6th. "This is an important deal", ensured Giovanni Savino, Opera del Gargano director, "Which shows a radical change for the whole religious tourism of Puglia and south-Italy". According to the agreement, routes to the pilgrims destinations will be operated by Mistral Air with Boeing 730-300, after signature of a 5 year contract. (Avionews)
(Avionews) 080604140944-1090463 (World Aeronautical Press Agency - 2008-06-04 02:09 pm)

Increased tourism demand for religious shrines

Increased tourism demand for religious shrines
article: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/8161.html

RELIGIOUS tourism figures have shown a sharp increase in recent years as millions continue to flock annually to pay homage at Portugal’s top shrines.

According to the latest data released by Turismo de Portugal, each year, more than seven million devoted pilgrims, as well as curious visitors, make their way to the famous sanctuaries of Fatima, Our Lady of Sameiro and Bom Jesus in Braga and Sao Bento da Porta Aberta in Geres.

One of the great pilgrimage shrines of the world, Fatima accounts for almost two-thirds of the total number of visitors, of which around 1.5 million continue their journey to other parts of the country. Fatima is the site of the famous apparition of the Virgin Mary on May 13, 1917, when she is said to have appeared to three peasant children from the hamlet of Aljestrel while standing in an oak tree bathed in a sea of light. The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the children on five further occasions every following month through to October and always on the 13th. To commemorate these events, large-scale pilgrimages are held on the 13th of every month from May to October.

Last Tuesday alone more than 300,000 pilgrims attended the May 13 ceremonies in Fatima.

Biblical theme park planned in Germany

Biblical theme park planned in Germany
Website article: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gVm6_ZSsR-8IXGKCiadXqJitT75Q

BERLIN (AFP) — If you ever fancied lunch in the Tower of Babel, visiting an "original size" Noah's Ark or a multimedia depiction of the final battle between Good and Evil, you may not have long to wait.

Under plans announced by a group of Swiss evangelical Christians and reported by the German press on Wednesday, Genesis Park, a theme park based on the Bible, will open at a yet to be chosen site in Germany by 2012.

It will group some 40 attractions over an area the size of 70 football pitches encompassing all areas of the Christian story, according to the organisers' website.

The centrepiece will be what the organisers call an "original size" Noah's Ark which is 150 metres (490 feet) long and surrounded by water.

Other attractions will include two roller coasters -- one giving an idea of the Great Flood and another on the theme of heaven and hell -- a miniature version of Biblical-era Israel and a Roman amphitheatre.

Visitors will be served food at the City of Enoch, a Tower of Babel panorama restaurant, an Old Testament-era desert tent, and a mock-up of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus -- also the location for the main shopping mall.

"We would like to transmit the story and the message of the Bible in an active and exciting way, so that many people in our society may have the opportunity to experience up close the most wonderful and fantastic love story of all, the love story of our Creator and Jesus Christ," the website said.

The project is well short of the necessary 120 million euros (185 million dollars), but organisers are talking with German investors and hope to raise enough by the end of the year, according to the Frankfurter Rundschau daily.

June 3, 2008

Marked increase in number of pilgrims visiting Holy Land

Marked increase in number of pilgrims visiting Holy Land
Catholic News Agency
http://catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12814

Rome, Jun 2, 2008 / 04:31 pm (CNA).- Auxiliary Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo of Jerusalem told L’Osservatore Romano this week that there has been a marked increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, thus allowing for the Church in Israel and peace in the Middle East to be promoted.

Father Gianfranco Pinto Ostuni, director of the Office of Pilgrimages of the Delegations from Rome to the Holy Land, told the Vatican daily that from June 2008 to January 2009, there are 27 pilgrimages scheduled. “We have doubled the trips since 2007. It’s enough just point out that last Easter 45,000 Italian pilgrims visited Jerusalem.”

In 2006, 58,000 Italian pilgrims visited the Holy Land and in 2007, 82,000. According to tourism promoter Maurizio Baiocchi, “at least 100,000” are expected to visit in 2009.

The custodian of the Holy Land, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said he expected some one million Russian pilgrims to visit the region in 2009, thanks to eased restrictions on visas for visiting Russians. He said large numbers of Muslim pilgrims are also expected next year as many come to visit the Omar and Al Aqsa Mosques, as well as the Holy Sepulcher, “in homage to Jesus, who they consider a prophet of Islam.”

Another Franciscan custodian of the Holy Land and professor at the “Biblicum” of Jerusalem, Father Frederic Mannes, said, “Many Christians here are in the religious tourism business. Seeing so many pilgrims from all over the world helps diminish the sense of abandonment that they often experience. Christians here, who are in contact with Jews and with globalization, tend to forget their religious identity,” he continued. “The presence of pilgrims can inspire in them as well a rediscovery of their faith.”

June 1, 2008

Religious tourism is a big business today in India

Religious tourism is a big business today in India....Click here for full article or see select paragraph below.....

Next on offer is the pilgrimage tours segment and notably, religious tourism is a big business today. A large number of Indians now want to visit and explore places of religious importance. They have worked out convenient tours for the customer to Shirdi, Kedarnath, Badrinath and Vaishnodevi. The last category is the made to order group tours to the Far East.