By JEFF STRICKLER, Star Tribune
July 25, 2008
Website http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/25898194.html?location_refer=Lifestyle
Steve and Alice Mohror are on vacation this week, but they haven't ventured far from their south Minneapolis home. It has nothing to do with one of those "staycations" motivated by a need to save money. Theirs is a higher calling: using their free time to help others.
"I want to give back to this neighborhood because it's my neighborhood," said Steve Mohror, part of a crew of volunteers building a privacy fence for a homeowner who was trying to put some distance -- both physical and symbolic -- between her well-maintained home and the abandoned, foreclosed house next door.
"I drive down these streets every day," Mohror continued. "Now when I drive by this place, I'm going to be able to say, 'I was there with a crew and helped make it better.'"
The Mohrors are part of a movement that's been around for decades, but has skyrocketed in the past few years, especially since Hurricane Katrina: using a week -- or more, in some cases -- of vacation to do volunteer labor for the less fortunate.
They're called "vacations with a purpose" or short-term mission trips. Once primarily the purview of church groups, they now also are arranged by service organizations reaching out to individuals and their families.
According to the Travel Industry Association, 2.1 million Americans will take "vacations with a purpose" this year, contributing the equivalent of $6 billion in labor. That number has doubled in five years, said Roger Peterson, CEO of STEM (Short-Term Evangelical Missions) International.
"In 2003, we were at about 1 million," said Peterson, who founded the Bloomington-based company in 1985 and often serves as a national spokesman for the industry. "Hurricane Katrina is responsible for much of that upsurge. On CNN and Fox [TV news], it was all Katrina, all the time, and people wanted to help."
In the process, a lot of people discovered that there's something addictive about it.
"You can't do just one," said Debbie Luth, a high school English teacher from Grand Forks, N.D., and a second-time volunteer who also worked on the privacy fence, part of a week's labor that included unloading semitruck trailers full of donated food and helping lead classes at the Boys and Girls Club of Minneapolis.
"This week, if I were home, I'd be working on my quilt or going to the lake to sun-tan," she said. "This is the only thing that will last. The quilt will unravel and the tan will fade, but this is something that makes a difference."
The fence was being built for Sadia Noor, a Somali immigrant who found out about the volunteer program in unusual fashion: She was trying to teach her daughter to drive when the teenager lost control of the car, smashed through a fence and came to a stop in a yard that turned out to belong to the Rev. Andy Gray.
Once they finished discussing what to do about the errant minivan, Gray mentioned that one of his duties at the Urban Refuge church in south Minneapolis was to organize short-term, in-town missions.
"We got to talking, and discovered that Sadia could use a little help," said Gray, who also had a crew help paint her house last year. "Sadia has turned out to be a very good friend."
This is the seventh summer Steve Mohror has used his vacation time for mission work. His wife is on her third summer. Asked what she gets out of it, Alice responded, "You mean besides the sweat? There's a lot of that." She laughed. "But there's also the chance to help someone who can't give back to you, and that feels good."
Brian Pals is in town for the week from Denver. He's an old hand at this. "I've spent at least one week on a mission trip every year since 1991," he said. He ended up in Minneapolis this year because his church "is a sister church to Andy's. We got a call from him. He was looking for money and people, and I said, 'I can do people.'"
In all, 40 people took part in various projects over the week as part of Gray's troop. The "grand finale," so to speak, takes place today when they all will gather at his church with volunteers from Kids Against Hunger for a "pack-a-thon" in which the goal is to pack 100,000 meals for children in Nicaragua and Haiti.
All in the family
Families also are welcome on many of the short-term missions. In fact, Twin Cities-based World Servants focuses on such endeavors.
"We get a lot of families who are looking for a way to reconnect," said operations manager Jennifer Kemper. "It's a common experience that the family can build on later. They get to go places and do things they wouldn't normally do together. It gives them something to talk about besides 'What did you do in school today?'"
The lesson of helping others is one that many youngsters take with them. Earlier this summer, Rachel Berns, 18, spent a week in the Twin Cities on a mission trip arranged by STEP. She's been doing such things since she was a little kid.
"My grandparents had a tradition of taking the whole family with them on a mission trip," she said from her home in Nebraska. "I really got to enjoy it. I know that summer is supposed to be a time to relax and goof off, but it's also important to serve God. It was a great experience going with my grandpa and grandma, and now I volunteer for a short-term mission every year."
Vacations with a purpose are becoming so popular that there's even a how-to book. "Hope Lives" (Group Publishing, $12.99) is based on humanitarian activist Amber van Schooneveld's experiences.
"There are a lot of misconceptions" about the missions, Van Schooneveld said. "To most people, it doesn't sound like a vacation. You're not sitting with your feet up; you're working. But you don't come back tired. You come back refreshed and recharged."
Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392
© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
July 26, 2008
Faith Tourism enticing option for travel in Turkey
Various factors lead tourists to choose Turkey as holiday destination
İstanbul’s historic Topkapı Palace is among the most popular sites in the city visited by tourists.
Turkey appeals to the differing interests and expectations of tourists from many countries, with its sunny beaches, shopping opportunities, historic sites and delicious Turkish cuisine, data provided from Ministry of Culture and Tourism have shown.
According Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Promotion data, the 23.341 million tourists who came to Turkey last year -- mostly from Germany, Russia and the UK -- had different reasons for choosing the country as their holiday destination.
While 4.148 million German tourists chose to spend their vacation in Turkey for its warm seas, sunny beaches, cuisine and entertainment, the 2.46 million Russians came for the low tour prices, water parks and discos.
The relatively warmer climate, cultural heritage and scenic beauty of Turkey were the primary factors of attraction for the 1.916 million English tourists in Turkey last year. As for the French, Turkey’s culture, faith-based tourism and city tours make the country an enticing vacation option.
According to data compiled by the Anatolian news agency, Turkey ranks fourth on German tourists’ list of holiday destinations, although Germans are the Turkish tourism industry’s leading target audience. Germans attach great importance to sparing time for vacations and generally prefer holiday villages in Turkey, which offer swimming in warm waters, Mediterranean cuisine, entertainment, SPA -- a kind of water treatment -- and shopping. Germans’ favorite holiday spot in Turkey is the southern coastal province of Antalya, which has been dubbed by some a “summer house” for Germans.
However infrastructural and environmental problems, maltreatment of animals and terror incidents are factors that deter would-be German visitors.
Sending nearly 29 million tourists abroad every year, Russia sends more tourists to Turkey than anywhere else, in contrast to Germany. Escaping their country’s cold climate to Turkey’s sun, sand and sea, Russians pay attention to tour package pricing, service quality, water park facilities, disco and recreational activities. Russian tourists, who generally prefer two or three-star hotels because of the cheap pricing, flock to Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum, Kuşadası and İstanbul in the summer months.
Although the UK is always seen among the first three countries sending the most tourists to Turkey, Turkey takes its place at the end of the English holiday preference list. Usually traveling to Turkey on package tours, English tourists, who like resting on the beach, playing golf and activities such as yacht tours and diving, are attracted by Turkey’s warm climate and reasonable prices along with its historical and natural beauties. Mostly going for a vacation between July and September and Christmas and Easter, English tourists travel to the western coastal provinces of Muğla, İstanbul and Antalya.
Turkey is also among the holiday vacation preferences of French tourists. French tourists are also influenced by the sea, culture, faith and rural tourism opportunities Turkey offers. Bodrum, the Aegean coastal province of İzmir, Antalya, İstanbul and Cappadocia are the French favorites.
Another country from which Turkey receives a considerable number of tourists is Holland. The Dutch enjoy traveling to countries with sunny beaches, low prices and hot-blooded people; however, they seem to have been deterred recently by political developments and tick-bite cases in Turkey.
The US is still also a significant tourism market for Turkey with regard to its tourist profile, although arrivals from the US to Turkey remain around 600,000-700,000 because of the distance between the two nations. American tourists enjoy shopping, city tours, historical and cultural heritage and beach tourism, generally choosing to stay in traditionally restored mansions and five-star hotels. Americans interested in cruises and cultural, city and faith tourism travel to İstanbul, Cappadocia, Kuşadası and the ancient city of Ephesus.
As for other countries’ preferences: Italians come to Bodrum, Antalya and İstanbul; Spanish tourists travel to Cappadocia and İstanbul along with the Aegean and Mediterranean regions; North European countries prefer Turkey’s pristine coasts, Mediterranean sun and thermal baths; Iranian tourists are attracted by sea and faith tourism and shopping opportunities in Turkey, visiting the Central Anatolian province of Konya, where Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, lived, and the northwestern province of Bursa.
İstanbul’s historic Topkapı Palace is among the most popular sites in the city visited by tourists.
Turkey appeals to the differing interests and expectations of tourists from many countries, with its sunny beaches, shopping opportunities, historic sites and delicious Turkish cuisine, data provided from Ministry of Culture and Tourism have shown.
According Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Promotion data, the 23.341 million tourists who came to Turkey last year -- mostly from Germany, Russia and the UK -- had different reasons for choosing the country as their holiday destination.
While 4.148 million German tourists chose to spend their vacation in Turkey for its warm seas, sunny beaches, cuisine and entertainment, the 2.46 million Russians came for the low tour prices, water parks and discos.
The relatively warmer climate, cultural heritage and scenic beauty of Turkey were the primary factors of attraction for the 1.916 million English tourists in Turkey last year. As for the French, Turkey’s culture, faith-based tourism and city tours make the country an enticing vacation option.
According to data compiled by the Anatolian news agency, Turkey ranks fourth on German tourists’ list of holiday destinations, although Germans are the Turkish tourism industry’s leading target audience. Germans attach great importance to sparing time for vacations and generally prefer holiday villages in Turkey, which offer swimming in warm waters, Mediterranean cuisine, entertainment, SPA -- a kind of water treatment -- and shopping. Germans’ favorite holiday spot in Turkey is the southern coastal province of Antalya, which has been dubbed by some a “summer house” for Germans.
However infrastructural and environmental problems, maltreatment of animals and terror incidents are factors that deter would-be German visitors.
Sending nearly 29 million tourists abroad every year, Russia sends more tourists to Turkey than anywhere else, in contrast to Germany. Escaping their country’s cold climate to Turkey’s sun, sand and sea, Russians pay attention to tour package pricing, service quality, water park facilities, disco and recreational activities. Russian tourists, who generally prefer two or three-star hotels because of the cheap pricing, flock to Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum, Kuşadası and İstanbul in the summer months.
Although the UK is always seen among the first three countries sending the most tourists to Turkey, Turkey takes its place at the end of the English holiday preference list. Usually traveling to Turkey on package tours, English tourists, who like resting on the beach, playing golf and activities such as yacht tours and diving, are attracted by Turkey’s warm climate and reasonable prices along with its historical and natural beauties. Mostly going for a vacation between July and September and Christmas and Easter, English tourists travel to the western coastal provinces of Muğla, İstanbul and Antalya.
Turkey is also among the holiday vacation preferences of French tourists. French tourists are also influenced by the sea, culture, faith and rural tourism opportunities Turkey offers. Bodrum, the Aegean coastal province of İzmir, Antalya, İstanbul and Cappadocia are the French favorites.
Another country from which Turkey receives a considerable number of tourists is Holland. The Dutch enjoy traveling to countries with sunny beaches, low prices and hot-blooded people; however, they seem to have been deterred recently by political developments and tick-bite cases in Turkey.
The US is still also a significant tourism market for Turkey with regard to its tourist profile, although arrivals from the US to Turkey remain around 600,000-700,000 because of the distance between the two nations. American tourists enjoy shopping, city tours, historical and cultural heritage and beach tourism, generally choosing to stay in traditionally restored mansions and five-star hotels. Americans interested in cruises and cultural, city and faith tourism travel to İstanbul, Cappadocia, Kuşadası and the ancient city of Ephesus.
As for other countries’ preferences: Italians come to Bodrum, Antalya and İstanbul; Spanish tourists travel to Cappadocia and İstanbul along with the Aegean and Mediterranean regions; North European countries prefer Turkey’s pristine coasts, Mediterranean sun and thermal baths; Iranian tourists are attracted by sea and faith tourism and shopping opportunities in Turkey, visiting the Central Anatolian province of Konya, where Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, lived, and the northwestern province of Bursa.
July 22, 2008
Cappadocia (Turkey) attracts Faith Tourism
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=148114&bolum=101
One of Turkey's natural wonders, Cappadocia has attracted more local tourists than foreigners this year. Cappadocia, a region of exceptional natural wonders characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage, has received more local tourists than foreigners this year, according to figures provided by the Nevşehir Governor's Office.
Situated in Nevşehir province, Cappadocia is one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations and attracts over a million tourists each year, both from inside and outside the country.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Nevşehir Governor Mehmet Asım Hacımustafaoğlu stated that an equal number of foreign and local tourists used to come to Cappadocia until this year, with locals now outnumbering outside tourists. The governor added, "The reason for this is that Turks have recently become aware of Cappadocia."
Hacımustafaoğlu said more than 2 million tourists are expected to visit the area this year. "There has been increasing demand since January. Of Cappadocia's 23,000 beds, most have been booked. Student groups come to Cappadocia, especially in May and June. Since the region appeals to culture and faith tourism, Cappadocia receives a considerable number of tourists during winter months, as well."
Speaking about interest in the region from Far Eastern countries, Governor Hacımustafaoğlu said China had added Turkey to its list of countries it allows its citizens to visit after a former Chinese ambassador to Turkey paid a visit to Cappadocia.
Hacımustafaoğlu also drew attention to the contribution of the Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport to tourism in the region. "We now have an airport which is among the biggest airports in Turkey, allowing for international flights," the governor said. He also talked about accommodation facilities in the area and noted that companies have encountered difficulties in finding land on which to build lodging due to building bans stemming from the region being classified as protected.
One of Turkey's natural wonders, Cappadocia has attracted more local tourists than foreigners this year. Cappadocia, a region of exceptional natural wonders characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage, has received more local tourists than foreigners this year, according to figures provided by the Nevşehir Governor's Office.
Situated in Nevşehir province, Cappadocia is one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations and attracts over a million tourists each year, both from inside and outside the country.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Nevşehir Governor Mehmet Asım Hacımustafaoğlu stated that an equal number of foreign and local tourists used to come to Cappadocia until this year, with locals now outnumbering outside tourists. The governor added, "The reason for this is that Turks have recently become aware of Cappadocia."
Hacımustafaoğlu said more than 2 million tourists are expected to visit the area this year. "There has been increasing demand since January. Of Cappadocia's 23,000 beds, most have been booked. Student groups come to Cappadocia, especially in May and June. Since the region appeals to culture and faith tourism, Cappadocia receives a considerable number of tourists during winter months, as well."
Speaking about interest in the region from Far Eastern countries, Governor Hacımustafaoğlu said China had added Turkey to its list of countries it allows its citizens to visit after a former Chinese ambassador to Turkey paid a visit to Cappadocia.
Hacımustafaoğlu also drew attention to the contribution of the Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport to tourism in the region. "We now have an airport which is among the biggest airports in Turkey, allowing for international flights," the governor said. He also talked about accommodation facilities in the area and noted that companies have encountered difficulties in finding land on which to build lodging due to building bans stemming from the region being classified as protected.
New Iraqi Airport Hope to Boost Religious Tourism
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011682488
July 21, 2008 10:13 p.m. EST
Jupiter Kalambakal - AHN News Writer
Najaf, Iraq (AHN) - In a bid to boost tourism in the city, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday inaugurated a new airport in the southern city of Najaf.
According to Al Jazeerahe Al-Hamza airport has been opened in what could be a key step in the reconstruction of Iraq, according to Al Jazeera.
Almost 9 million pilgrims reportedly travel to Iraq every year to visit Shiite shrines in Najaf and other religious sites such as Karbala. With a new airport to accommodate the travelers, the numbers of pious tourists is expected to surge by as much as 10 percent annually.
Kuwaiti investment firm Al-Aqeelah - which handled the multi-billion dollar project - also plans to build hotel chains and houses in the area.
Since the U.S.-led invasion in the country, violence in Iraq has reportedly reached a four-year low and government politicians have begun to seek investment deals to promote the country.
July 21, 2008 10:13 p.m. EST
Jupiter Kalambakal - AHN News Writer
Najaf, Iraq (AHN) - In a bid to boost tourism in the city, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday inaugurated a new airport in the southern city of Najaf.
According to Al Jazeerahe Al-Hamza airport has been opened in what could be a key step in the reconstruction of Iraq, according to Al Jazeera.
Almost 9 million pilgrims reportedly travel to Iraq every year to visit Shiite shrines in Najaf and other religious sites such as Karbala. With a new airport to accommodate the travelers, the numbers of pious tourists is expected to surge by as much as 10 percent annually.
Kuwaiti investment firm Al-Aqeelah - which handled the multi-billion dollar project - also plans to build hotel chains and houses in the area.
Since the U.S.-led invasion in the country, violence in Iraq has reportedly reached a four-year low and government politicians have begun to seek investment deals to promote the country.
July 21, 2008
Iraq opens airport aimed at tourism
Website: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GCA-iraq/idUSANS84004720080720
Iraq opens airport aimed at tourism
Al-Maliki said that he hoped other
provinces would open new airports [AFP]
A new airport has been opened in Najaf, Iraq's Shiite holy city, with Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, making the inaugural flight.
Al-Hamza airport, formerly a military airport, was opened on Sunday amid hopes of a religious tourism boom in the city.
Maliki said: "It is a historic moment. It is a moment that symbolises equality among all Iraqis."
He hoped that the opening would assist in the reconstruction of Iraq and that provinces in the rest of the country would follow the lead.
"There must be competition among other provinces when it comes to rebuilding their regions," he said.
The shrine of Iman Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, is in the southern city, and other religious sites are nearby.
Developers say that 9 million pilgrims visit the locations each year.
Planners hope that the new airport will increase the number of visitors by 10 per cent annually.
Al-Aqeelah, a Kuwaiti investment firm, has led the multi-billion dollar project. The firm also plans to build thousands of new homes and hotels in Najaf.
Kuwait has a large Shia minority.
Maliki and other government politicians are attempting to promote investment in the country.
Violence in Iraq is at a four-year low following the US-led invasion of the county in 2003.
The UN said that foreign direct investment in Iraq was $272 million in 2006.
Iraq opens airport aimed at tourism
Al-Maliki said that he hoped other
provinces would open new airports [AFP]
A new airport has been opened in Najaf, Iraq's Shiite holy city, with Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, making the inaugural flight.
Al-Hamza airport, formerly a military airport, was opened on Sunday amid hopes of a religious tourism boom in the city.
Maliki said: "It is a historic moment. It is a moment that symbolises equality among all Iraqis."
He hoped that the opening would assist in the reconstruction of Iraq and that provinces in the rest of the country would follow the lead.
"There must be competition among other provinces when it comes to rebuilding their regions," he said.
The shrine of Iman Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, is in the southern city, and other religious sites are nearby.
Developers say that 9 million pilgrims visit the locations each year.
Planners hope that the new airport will increase the number of visitors by 10 per cent annually.
Al-Aqeelah, a Kuwaiti investment firm, has led the multi-billion dollar project. The firm also plans to build thousands of new homes and hotels in Najaf.
Kuwait has a large Shia minority.
Maliki and other government politicians are attempting to promote investment in the country.
Violence in Iraq is at a four-year low following the US-led invasion of the county in 2003.
The UN said that foreign direct investment in Iraq was $272 million in 2006.
July 20, 2008
Turkey uses religion to lure tourists
Website article: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080720/FOREIGN/810801243/1041/ART
Thomas Seibert, Foreign Correspondent
A woman prepares wreaths outside Mary’s House chapel near Selcuk, Turkey. Authorities and tour operators have identified many biblical sites to try to attract additional visitors and revenue. Menahem Kahana / AFP
ISTANBUL // Forget about sun, beaches and all-inclusive hotels. The hottest travel trend in Turkey is religious tourism, as such sites as the house of Mary, mother of Jesus, the church of the original Santa Claus and the ancient hometown of St Paul are attracting a growing number of visitors.
Although Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country today, many important events in Christian history and tradition took place in Anatolia, a heritage that authorities and tour operators have identified as a source for additional visitors and revenue.
“These are different tourists from those you find in [beach hotels in] Antalya,” said Fugen Kolsal, the owner of Oktogon Tourism, a travel agency in Istanbul that specialises in “biblical tours” and other offers for visitors interested in the history of early Christianity. “They are older, more conservative, they are open for the country and its people, they have more money, and they reach places where normal tourists will never go.”
A Religious Tourism Project, conducted by Turkey’s tourism ministry, aims to “increase the number of visitors to important centres” of religious history, most of which are connected to Christianity, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The project includes the church of the original Santa Claus, St Nicholas, in Demre near Antalya; the so-called “House of Mother Mary” near Izmir, where, according to legend, the mother of Jesus lived after the death of her son; and the Hagia Sophia church in Iznik near Bursa, where bishops laid the theological foundations for today’s Christianity in meetings in the fourth and eighth century AD.
The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, or Tursab, is planning a symposium on religious tourism in Antakya, the former Antiochia, this year. Antakya is known as the place where followers of Jesus were called Christians for the first time and where apostles Paul and Peter met.
A recent initiative by the Catholic Church has provided an additional impetus. Pope Benedict XVI officially launched the Vatican’s Year of St Paul on June 28. Paul, one of the most important followers of Jesus, was born in Tarsus – in what is today southern Turkey – 2,000 years ago. The St Paul Church in Tarsus, which has served as a museum, will be opened for religious services throughout the year.
“We are getting bookings for next year, especially because of the year of St Paul,” said Ilhan Ucak, the owner of Sempa Tur, a travel agency in Istanbul that organises religious tours.
In Tarsus itself, the Year of St Paul has started to make itself felt already. “We have more tourists than before,” said Nadir Durgun of the tourism department in the Tarsus municipality. He said a total of 16,322 tourists from more than 40 countries visited the city last year, but many more were expected this year, especially in September and October, when the summer heat is over.
The tourism ministry said in a recent statement that “millions of Christian pilgrims are expected to meet in Tarsus” in the Year of St Paul, but this expectation might be exaggerated, Mr Durgun said. “Perhaps 100,000 would be more realistic,” he said.
A city of 230,000 people that suffers from high unemployment after local textile factories closed, Tarsus is so dependent on the tourist trade that the arrival of bigger tour groups is celebrated as a major event in the city. “Tarsus has been inundated with tourists,” the local newspaper Tarsus reported after the visit of 1,000 US tourists in April.
Tarsus is planning to build more hotels to keep visitors in the city for longer, Mr Durgun said. “Right now, many people come by bus, look at St Paul’s Church and drive off again,” he said. A weak infrastructure in such places as Tarsus is only one reason holding religious tourism back. Recent events, such as the kidnapping of three German mountaineers by Kurdish rebels on the biblical Ararat Mountain in eastern Turkey, scare off potential visitors, said Ms Kolsal of Oktogon Tourism. “I have three tour groups going to eastern Turkey in the autumn, but I’m concerned that they will cancel. Every year there is something new” that keeps visitors away, she said.
The Germans were released yesterday.
Also, Turkey has not yet made the most of its biblical and Christian heritage, Ms Kolsal said. “There is much still to be shown,” she said. But the rise in religious tourism has also led to fears in nationalist circles that the Christian West may try to claim Turkish territory and that Christian missionaries may try to exploit the opening of historic sites to convert Turkish Muslims to Christianity. The aim behind all the infrastructure improvements and restorations of Christian and ancient sites in Turkey was clear, the nationalist magazine Ufuk Otesi commented this month: “To take Anatolia, a former Christian territory, from our hand … Everything that is done under the motto of religious tourism only serves to put this plan into practice.”
tseibert@thenational.ae
Thomas Seibert, Foreign Correspondent
A woman prepares wreaths outside Mary’s House chapel near Selcuk, Turkey. Authorities and tour operators have identified many biblical sites to try to attract additional visitors and revenue. Menahem Kahana / AFP
ISTANBUL // Forget about sun, beaches and all-inclusive hotels. The hottest travel trend in Turkey is religious tourism, as such sites as the house of Mary, mother of Jesus, the church of the original Santa Claus and the ancient hometown of St Paul are attracting a growing number of visitors.
Although Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country today, many important events in Christian history and tradition took place in Anatolia, a heritage that authorities and tour operators have identified as a source for additional visitors and revenue.
“These are different tourists from those you find in [beach hotels in] Antalya,” said Fugen Kolsal, the owner of Oktogon Tourism, a travel agency in Istanbul that specialises in “biblical tours” and other offers for visitors interested in the history of early Christianity. “They are older, more conservative, they are open for the country and its people, they have more money, and they reach places where normal tourists will never go.”
A Religious Tourism Project, conducted by Turkey’s tourism ministry, aims to “increase the number of visitors to important centres” of religious history, most of which are connected to Christianity, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The project includes the church of the original Santa Claus, St Nicholas, in Demre near Antalya; the so-called “House of Mother Mary” near Izmir, where, according to legend, the mother of Jesus lived after the death of her son; and the Hagia Sophia church in Iznik near Bursa, where bishops laid the theological foundations for today’s Christianity in meetings in the fourth and eighth century AD.
The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, or Tursab, is planning a symposium on religious tourism in Antakya, the former Antiochia, this year. Antakya is known as the place where followers of Jesus were called Christians for the first time and where apostles Paul and Peter met.
A recent initiative by the Catholic Church has provided an additional impetus. Pope Benedict XVI officially launched the Vatican’s Year of St Paul on June 28. Paul, one of the most important followers of Jesus, was born in Tarsus – in what is today southern Turkey – 2,000 years ago. The St Paul Church in Tarsus, which has served as a museum, will be opened for religious services throughout the year.
“We are getting bookings for next year, especially because of the year of St Paul,” said Ilhan Ucak, the owner of Sempa Tur, a travel agency in Istanbul that organises religious tours.
In Tarsus itself, the Year of St Paul has started to make itself felt already. “We have more tourists than before,” said Nadir Durgun of the tourism department in the Tarsus municipality. He said a total of 16,322 tourists from more than 40 countries visited the city last year, but many more were expected this year, especially in September and October, when the summer heat is over.
The tourism ministry said in a recent statement that “millions of Christian pilgrims are expected to meet in Tarsus” in the Year of St Paul, but this expectation might be exaggerated, Mr Durgun said. “Perhaps 100,000 would be more realistic,” he said.
A city of 230,000 people that suffers from high unemployment after local textile factories closed, Tarsus is so dependent on the tourist trade that the arrival of bigger tour groups is celebrated as a major event in the city. “Tarsus has been inundated with tourists,” the local newspaper Tarsus reported after the visit of 1,000 US tourists in April.
Tarsus is planning to build more hotels to keep visitors in the city for longer, Mr Durgun said. “Right now, many people come by bus, look at St Paul’s Church and drive off again,” he said. A weak infrastructure in such places as Tarsus is only one reason holding religious tourism back. Recent events, such as the kidnapping of three German mountaineers by Kurdish rebels on the biblical Ararat Mountain in eastern Turkey, scare off potential visitors, said Ms Kolsal of Oktogon Tourism. “I have three tour groups going to eastern Turkey in the autumn, but I’m concerned that they will cancel. Every year there is something new” that keeps visitors away, she said.
The Germans were released yesterday.
Also, Turkey has not yet made the most of its biblical and Christian heritage, Ms Kolsal said. “There is much still to be shown,” she said. But the rise in religious tourism has also led to fears in nationalist circles that the Christian West may try to claim Turkish territory and that Christian missionaries may try to exploit the opening of historic sites to convert Turkish Muslims to Christianity. The aim behind all the infrastructure improvements and restorations of Christian and ancient sites in Turkey was clear, the nationalist magazine Ufuk Otesi commented this month: “To take Anatolia, a former Christian territory, from our hand … Everything that is done under the motto of religious tourism only serves to put this plan into practice.”
tseibert@thenational.ae
July 19, 2008
India enjoyed 12% tourism growth; much thanks to Religious Tourism
Website: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Tourist_arrivals_jump_12_in_first_half_of_08/articleshow/3254499.cms
NEW DELHI: You’ve heard about the battered hospitality sector and agonised over the plunging fortunes of airlines. But here’s some cause for cheer. The travel and tourism industry in India is bucking the recessionary trend big time and in the first six months of this year, tourism arrivals have seen a jump of 12% over the corresponding period in 2007. Last year, tourist arrivals to the country were 2.6 million as compared to 2.03 million the year before. According to the ministry of tourism (MoT), foreign exchange earnings from this sector also showed a growth of 22% at $6.21 billion against $5.08 billion in the corresponding period in 2007. And the positive trend doesn’t just stop at inbound foreign tourists. The domestic tourist stats too show a phenomenal growth. On that front, the figure this year is expected to cross the 600-million mark, against 526 million in 2007 and 460 million in 2006. Interestingly, out of the 526 million domestic tourists, only 276 million were urban residents and the rest 250 million were rural residents. This trend, experts feel, shows a boom in religious tourism and not surprisingly, leading tour and travel companies have adopted new marketing strategies to promote these destinations. Meanwhile, the ministry of tourism, is definitely not complaining about the increasing number of footfalls in India from America and the UK, which have become the biggest source markets. According to sources, more than 31% of the foreign traffic came to India from these two countries, with Canada and France next on the list. Says Leena Nandan, joint secretary, ministry of tourism: “Our aggressive international campaign is paying dividends and the figures are saying it all. The Asian region, too, is important for us and we are going to aggressively market there. These days, tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. It offers immense opportunities to entrepreneurs in various segments. What is detrimental to our tourism growth is the lack of basic facilities at our monuments, pilgrimage places and tourist sites. We need to have a higher involvement of key stakeholders in improving the basic facilities as the government cannot do this job alone.” Adds Bharat Sidheshwar Rai, ED of Swift Travel: “Marketing for foreign business follows the traditional travel route. Our marketing answer is to have tie-ups in all these destinations to make both travel and stay easy.”
NEW DELHI: You’ve heard about the battered hospitality sector and agonised over the plunging fortunes of airlines. But here’s some cause for cheer. The travel and tourism industry in India is bucking the recessionary trend big time and in the first six months of this year, tourism arrivals have seen a jump of 12% over the corresponding period in 2007. Last year, tourist arrivals to the country were 2.6 million as compared to 2.03 million the year before. According to the ministry of tourism (MoT), foreign exchange earnings from this sector also showed a growth of 22% at $6.21 billion against $5.08 billion in the corresponding period in 2007. And the positive trend doesn’t just stop at inbound foreign tourists. The domestic tourist stats too show a phenomenal growth. On that front, the figure this year is expected to cross the 600-million mark, against 526 million in 2007 and 460 million in 2006. Interestingly, out of the 526 million domestic tourists, only 276 million were urban residents and the rest 250 million were rural residents. This trend, experts feel, shows a boom in religious tourism and not surprisingly, leading tour and travel companies have adopted new marketing strategies to promote these destinations. Meanwhile, the ministry of tourism, is definitely not complaining about the increasing number of footfalls in India from America and the UK, which have become the biggest source markets. According to sources, more than 31% of the foreign traffic came to India from these two countries, with Canada and France next on the list. Says Leena Nandan, joint secretary, ministry of tourism: “Our aggressive international campaign is paying dividends and the figures are saying it all. The Asian region, too, is important for us and we are going to aggressively market there. These days, tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. It offers immense opportunities to entrepreneurs in various segments. What is detrimental to our tourism growth is the lack of basic facilities at our monuments, pilgrimage places and tourist sites. We need to have a higher involvement of key stakeholders in improving the basic facilities as the government cannot do this job alone.” Adds Bharat Sidheshwar Rai, ED of Swift Travel: “Marketing for foreign business follows the traditional travel route. Our marketing answer is to have tie-ups in all these destinations to make both travel and stay easy.”
July 18, 2008
Al-Bashir points out importance of religious tourism in Jordan
Al-Bashir stated that this sector has been growing significantly in Jordan and pointed out the importance of religious tourism to the country.
By: iStockAnalyst Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:53 PM
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2408779~title_'Brazil-Has-a-Story-of.html
According to anba: The good moment for the economies of Brazil and Jordan was one of the matters discussed yesterday (16) at a meeting between the minister of Foreign Relations of the Arab country, Salaheddine Al-Bashir, and members of the board at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, at the organisation's offices, in S?o Paulo. Yesterday, Al-Bashir concluded an official tour of Brazil for preparation of the official visit to the country of the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, in October. The minister praised the good performance of the economy of Brazil."Brazil has a story of success," said the Arab minister, mentioning the political and economic performance of the country as an example of the fight against inflation. "The success of Brazilian industry is a global reference," said the minister. Al-Bashir stated that Jordan and the Arab world as a whole admire Brazil and added that he knows of the Arab participation in the Brazilian economy and industry. At the meeting with Arab Brazilian Chamber directors, the minister also received further information about the size of the Brazilian economy. "Brazil is an international creditor. We are a country with strong agricultural talent. With the global food crisis, we may be the largest supplier in the sector," stated Arab Brazilian Chamber president Antonio Sarkis Jr. He told Al-Bashir that the country has the third largest aeronautics industry in the world and factories of over 15 carmakers. For this reason, Sarkis said he believes that Brazil and the Arab world are at an appropriate moment for investment and partnerships. Jordan, according to minister Al- Bashir, is also living a good phase. He said that the country is proud of its low levels of illiteracy and infant mortality, in comparison to the first world. "We have an economy of US$ 14 billion, six million inhabitants and per capita income of US$ 2,400," said the Foreign Minister. The foreign debt of the country, which was as high as 200% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the late 80s, is now at 35% of GDP.Al-Bashir stated that the stock markets of the country have grown and that levels of poverty and unemployment have dropped. The country has inflation, but, according to him, it is fuelled by the greater oil and food prices. "We are living a good to excellent situation in terms of transparency," stated the minister. Al-Bashir spoke about the trade agreements that the country has with Arab countries, the European Union and the United States. "Jordan is an economically open country and guarantees the rights of foreign investors," he finished off.Both Sarkis and Al-Bashir showed interest in greater bilateral investment between Brazil and Jordan. The Foreign Trade vice president at the Chamber, Salim Schahin, said that Brazil needs investment in infrastructure, in ports, for example, and that the Arabs have been seeking investment opportunities. He also recalled that Brazil has a strong energy sector, which may operate in the region.Other matters discussed at the meeting also included tourism, an area in which the Jordanians and Brazilians want to provide incentives to reciprocal visits. Al-Bashir stated that this sector has been growing significantly in Jordan and pointed out the importance of religious tourism to the country. "Jordan is proud of its Christian and Islamic heritage," he said. Schahin presented to the minister the Abraham Path Initiative, a tourist route that includes the sites crossed by Abraham in the Middle East. The objective is to show the common origin of monotheistic religions.
Originally published by Info-Prod Strategic Business Information.
By: iStockAnalyst Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:53 PM
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2408779~title_'Brazil-Has-a-Story-of.html
According to anba: The good moment for the economies of Brazil and Jordan was one of the matters discussed yesterday (16) at a meeting between the minister of Foreign Relations of the Arab country, Salaheddine Al-Bashir, and members of the board at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, at the organisation's offices, in S?o Paulo. Yesterday, Al-Bashir concluded an official tour of Brazil for preparation of the official visit to the country of the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, in October. The minister praised the good performance of the economy of Brazil."Brazil has a story of success," said the Arab minister, mentioning the political and economic performance of the country as an example of the fight against inflation. "The success of Brazilian industry is a global reference," said the minister. Al-Bashir stated that Jordan and the Arab world as a whole admire Brazil and added that he knows of the Arab participation in the Brazilian economy and industry. At the meeting with Arab Brazilian Chamber directors, the minister also received further information about the size of the Brazilian economy. "Brazil is an international creditor. We are a country with strong agricultural talent. With the global food crisis, we may be the largest supplier in the sector," stated Arab Brazilian Chamber president Antonio Sarkis Jr. He told Al-Bashir that the country has the third largest aeronautics industry in the world and factories of over 15 carmakers. For this reason, Sarkis said he believes that Brazil and the Arab world are at an appropriate moment for investment and partnerships. Jordan, according to minister Al- Bashir, is also living a good phase. He said that the country is proud of its low levels of illiteracy and infant mortality, in comparison to the first world. "We have an economy of US$ 14 billion, six million inhabitants and per capita income of US$ 2,400," said the Foreign Minister. The foreign debt of the country, which was as high as 200% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the late 80s, is now at 35% of GDP.Al-Bashir stated that the stock markets of the country have grown and that levels of poverty and unemployment have dropped. The country has inflation, but, according to him, it is fuelled by the greater oil and food prices. "We are living a good to excellent situation in terms of transparency," stated the minister. Al-Bashir spoke about the trade agreements that the country has with Arab countries, the European Union and the United States. "Jordan is an economically open country and guarantees the rights of foreign investors," he finished off.Both Sarkis and Al-Bashir showed interest in greater bilateral investment between Brazil and Jordan. The Foreign Trade vice president at the Chamber, Salim Schahin, said that Brazil needs investment in infrastructure, in ports, for example, and that the Arabs have been seeking investment opportunities. He also recalled that Brazil has a strong energy sector, which may operate in the region.Other matters discussed at the meeting also included tourism, an area in which the Jordanians and Brazilians want to provide incentives to reciprocal visits. Al-Bashir stated that this sector has been growing significantly in Jordan and pointed out the importance of religious tourism to the country. "Jordan is proud of its Christian and Islamic heritage," he said. Schahin presented to the minister the Abraham Path Initiative, a tourist route that includes the sites crossed by Abraham in the Middle East. The objective is to show the common origin of monotheistic religions.
Originally published by Info-Prod Strategic Business Information.
July 6, 2008
India: State government to package eco, religious tourism
State govt to package eco, religious tourism
Chandigarh Newsline - Chandigarh,India
In an effort to attract tourists to the state, the government plans to offer package tours that combine both eco-tourism and religious tourism. ...
July 2, 2008
Journeys of the Spirt Festival Announced by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rosamaria Mancini/ Press Office
+39 06/69896301/3351609526
r.mancini@jospfest.com
ORP Announces Josp Fest, Journeys of the Spirit Festival
25 June, 2008, Rome - Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi announces today the launch of Josp Fest, Journeys of the Spirit Festival, the first international festival dedicated to “journeys” of the spirit.
The four-day festival, to be held from 15 to 18 January at the New Rome Fair Grounds, is an event that “celebrates” pilgrims and calls on all people of the world who desire to “begin a journey” that stimulates and contributes to spiritual growth.
Josp Fest, which will bring together the public and industry operators, is different and like no other event because it’s focused not only on pilgrimages to sacred locations, but also on the interior experience that come along with these journeys.
“The theme of the interior journey is important because it distinguishes these itineraries of faith from existing offerings that do not give the possibility of an interior experience that allows us to find the truth in ourselves concerning God and our world,” said Father Cesare Atuire, director general of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi.
Using new technology, Josp Fest will allow visitors to create a dialogue with diverse churches, faith-based communities and religions, as well as different nations and civilizations.
The festival will also offer extensive programs, performances and meetings in modern spaces that will entertain both young and old, as well as inform, stimulate, reflect and evangelize with joy.
“Sing and walk,” a phrase by St. Augustine, is the theme of the first edition of Josp Fest as it clearly describes the pilgrimage experience.
Josp Fest is the result of the continuing popularity of religion and spirituality as motivation for travel. This type of travel, or pilgrimage, that dates as far back to Egyptian Empire when out-of-towners streamed into the city to attend religious festivals, has over the years become associated with stereotypes such as niche market and trips for adults of a certain age.
Josp Fest, however, is the great opportunity to help eliminate those stereotypes and to retrain the tourism industry to focus on the dynamic aspects of the pilgrimage experience.
Rome, the city of Pope Benedict XVI, is the host city for Josp Fest because it’s the capital of Christian faith and the only city in the world that has had 2,000 continuous years of Christianity.
Rome, rich in religious sites and monuments, is the place to begin a spiritual journey, and its central geographical location also makes it the ideal departure point for pilgrims to take off from and visit the rest of the religious world.
Rome, a city that is highly regarded for its capacity to receive people, and the Church of Rome that St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “presides in charity,” are prepared to host this unique international event in 2009.
For more information visit our newly launched web site at www.jospfest.com
###
Contact: Rosamaria Mancini/ Press Office
+39 06/69896301/3351609526
r.mancini@jospfest.com
ORP Announces Josp Fest, Journeys of the Spirit Festival
25 June, 2008, Rome - Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi announces today the launch of Josp Fest, Journeys of the Spirit Festival, the first international festival dedicated to “journeys” of the spirit.
The four-day festival, to be held from 15 to 18 January at the New Rome Fair Grounds, is an event that “celebrates” pilgrims and calls on all people of the world who desire to “begin a journey” that stimulates and contributes to spiritual growth.
Josp Fest, which will bring together the public and industry operators, is different and like no other event because it’s focused not only on pilgrimages to sacred locations, but also on the interior experience that come along with these journeys.
“The theme of the interior journey is important because it distinguishes these itineraries of faith from existing offerings that do not give the possibility of an interior experience that allows us to find the truth in ourselves concerning God and our world,” said Father Cesare Atuire, director general of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi.
Using new technology, Josp Fest will allow visitors to create a dialogue with diverse churches, faith-based communities and religions, as well as different nations and civilizations.
The festival will also offer extensive programs, performances and meetings in modern spaces that will entertain both young and old, as well as inform, stimulate, reflect and evangelize with joy.
“Sing and walk,” a phrase by St. Augustine, is the theme of the first edition of Josp Fest as it clearly describes the pilgrimage experience.
Josp Fest is the result of the continuing popularity of religion and spirituality as motivation for travel. This type of travel, or pilgrimage, that dates as far back to Egyptian Empire when out-of-towners streamed into the city to attend religious festivals, has over the years become associated with stereotypes such as niche market and trips for adults of a certain age.
Josp Fest, however, is the great opportunity to help eliminate those stereotypes and to retrain the tourism industry to focus on the dynamic aspects of the pilgrimage experience.
Rome, the city of Pope Benedict XVI, is the host city for Josp Fest because it’s the capital of Christian faith and the only city in the world that has had 2,000 continuous years of Christianity.
Rome, rich in religious sites and monuments, is the place to begin a spiritual journey, and its central geographical location also makes it the ideal departure point for pilgrims to take off from and visit the rest of the religious world.
Rome, a city that is highly regarded for its capacity to receive people, and the Church of Rome that St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “presides in charity,” are prepared to host this unique international event in 2009.
For more information visit our newly launched web site at www.jospfest.com
###
UAE interesed in advancing religious tourism
Experts applaud growth of Saudi tourism and travel sector
Business Intelligence Middle East (press release) - United Arab EmiratesWe are particularly interested in advancing religious tourism," he said. "We will develop domestic and international services that will cater to the unique ...See all stories on this topic
Business Intelligence Middle East (press release) - United Arab EmiratesWe are particularly interested in advancing religious tourism," he said. "We will develop domestic and international services that will cater to the unique ...See all stories on this topic
July 1, 2008
The Year of Faith Tourism Proclaimed by World Religious Travel Association
LITTLETON, Colorado (July 1, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has designated 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism. Serving as a special time set aside for the promotion of and participation in travel by people of faith, the purpose and goal of the year-long celebrations and activities is three-fold: (1) Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism. (2) Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism. (3) Contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.All sectors of society are encouraged to become actively involved in The Year of Faith Tourism including the media, governments, travel providers/suppliers, faith communities, and individuals. The official host of The Year of Faith Tourism is the World Religious Travel Association, the leading organization dedicated to the $18 billion faith-based travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.
“Never before has a time been so ripe for the promotion of and participation in Faith Tourism. Although religious travel is the historic forerunner of today’s mass tourism, only now is Faith Tourism beginning to make its presence and economic contributions known throughout society and the travel industry in a big way,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president and author of The Christian Travel Planner. “Faith Tourism is a market that is currently experiencing extraordinary growth on multiple fronts and is poised to continue this trend into 2009 and beyond.”
In recent years, Faith Tourism has evolved from a niche market driven primarily by budget pilgrimages and retirees into a vast and dynamic industry comprised of all ages seeking a diverse range of quality travel experiences. Faith Tourism today comprises its own “niche” segments including pilgrimages, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, events, conferences, cruises, leisure vacations, adventure trips, retreats, camps, monastic guest-stays, attractions, and many other forms of travel. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are 3.3 billion Christian domestic tourists each year, 250 million Christian foreign tourists, and 150 million Christian pilgrims who are “on the move.”
As 2009 is shaping up to be year of uncertainty especially within the travel industry, there has never been a more opportune or needed time for placing Faith Tourism “front and center” of society and the global travel industry. With its designation and spotlight in 2009, Faith Tourism is set to serve as an integral economic pillar and stimulus of the global and local travel economy during this special year of celebrations and activities.
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has designated the following fifteen ways in which every person and sector of society and the travel industry can become involved in the promotion of and/or active participation in Faith Tourism:
1. Individuals embark on travels with their faith community and/or to any faith-related destination.
2. Individuals become group travel planners for their faith communities.
3. Faith communities launch a formal travel program (or travel ministry).
4. Faith communities host one or more group trips.
5. Religious leaders preach on travel as ministry.
6. Tourist boards and CVB’s dedicate resources towards attracting, growing, and measuring Faith Tourism.
7. Travel and hospitality providers integrate the faith market and consumer into their overall product, sales, and marketing plans/efforts.
8. The travel industry further develops and enriches Faith Tourism educational resources and business materials.
9. Tour director schools integrate faith tourism curriculum.
10. Media feature and report on stories about Faith Tourism.
11. Film and other related companies produce faith travel programs, documentaries, and series.
12. Publishers launch or expand faith travel publications including guidebooks, magazines, and other periodicals.
13. Religious bookstores and gift-stores implement Travel sections.
14. Colleges and universities undertake the study of Faith Tourism and/or offer Faith Tourism classes.
15. Religious governing bodies promote and advance the theology of Faith Tourism.
As part of its kick-off for The Year of Faith Tourism, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is hosting this fall the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Orlando (Florida) from October 29 – November 1, 2008. Serving as the travel industry’s first-ever global tradeshow and convention dedicated to the faith tourism and hospitality industry, the event will serve as a gathering of the “Who’s Who” in this robust marketplace. Two of the keynote speakers include 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. More than 400 participants are expected at this historic and unprecedented show.
To learn more about The Year of Faith Tourism, visit the official website at www.faithtourism2009.com. For more information about the World Religious Travel Association or the World Religious Travel Expo, visit the websites www.religioustravelassociation.com and www.religioustravelexpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288.
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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 or associate, 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.
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