KGO AM 810 Newstalk Radio: My Religious Tourism Interview

KGO AM 810 Newstalk Radio, San Francisco.

Companies with stakes in faith-based travel are banking on Christian events taking place throughout Europe in 2010.

"2010 is a year that looks to be a very good year in religious tourism," said Kevin Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association and chairman of the World Religious Travel Expo, which took place in Reno, Nev., this month.

According to the World Religious Travel Association, "Overall, the market has remained relatively steady compared to the rest of the leisure travel industry. Just like every nook and cranny of the tourism industry, everybody took a little bit of a hit. But in that context, religious tourism is holding steady."

Video Highlights from World Religious Travel Expo 2009

Enjoy highlights from the recent World Religious Travel Expo 2009 in Reno, Nevada (USA).

To watch the video, click on either of the following:
http://bit.ly/Expo2009Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRjuKe28X8M

PASTORS, MINISTRY LEADERS & THOSE INTERESTED IN FAITH-BASED TRAVEL INVITED TO WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO

PASTORS, MINISTRY LEADERS & THOSE INTERESTED IN FAITH-BASED TRAVEL REGISTER TODAY! FOR THE WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Have you continued to do the same trips year after year? Are you looking to plan new, exciting trips that will entice new members of your fellowship to travel? If so, we would love to invite you to attend the first-ever travel show for religious leaders and faith-based travelers- the World Religious Travel Expo.

Why Attend this Year?
Explore the diverse world of faith-based travel including pilgrimages, mission trips, Volunteer vacations, fellowship cruises, and more

• Discover how to build a thriving travel program/ministry
• Meet personally with tourism/travel officials from Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Cyprus,
• Greece,Turkey, Switzerland, Britain, Scotland, Korea, India, Pakistan & more
• Discuss opportunities with missionary travel companies such as MTS Travel and volunteer vacation companies such as Lifetree Adventures
• Plan trips with leading pilgrimage tour companies such as Regina Tours, Unitours, as well as overseas Christian tour companies from Palestine, Turkey, Africa, Greece, Germany, and much more
• Explore Christian and faith-based attractions such as TBN's The Holy Land Experience, and The Shrine of Christ's Passion
• Design a fellowship cruise with faith-based cruise companies such as Premier Christian Cruises
• Discuss opportunities with retreat conference centers such as Lifeway Conference Centers
• Get ready for Oberammergau with The German National Tourist Office, as well as other local German tourism officials who can help you plan and prepare for your trip to next year's renowned Passion Play
• Tickets purchased in advance are $20...plus you get an autographed copy of The Christian Travel Planner! Books are limited so please fax back the below registration today to ensure your copy.
  
  Tickets at the door are $35 (book not included).
  
  FAX YOUR REGISTRATION TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR BOOK! (859.226.4434)
  
  Download your registration.

Questions or would you like to register over the phone? Contact WRTA/Expo Staff at 859.226.4203 or visit

Pilgrims Prosper: Faith-Based Travel Proves Recession-Resistant

Read full story at http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/pilgrims_prosper

BY Tim Drake
Register Senior Writer
October 18-24, 2009 Issue

In a recent Gallup Poll, 42% of respondents said that they had delayed a vacation over the past 60 days in order to help make ends meet. Yet, despite the economic downturn, experts expect 2010 and 2011 to be banner years for religious travel.

Kevin Wright, president and founder of the World Religious Travel Association, said that the next two years look to be “fascinating” for Catholic and religious travel. “Tour operators expect 500,000 visitors for the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, which only happens every decade,” he said. In addition, noted Wright, Spain has declared 2010 a holy year because the feast of St. James, July 25, falls on a Sunday, which means that many will be traveling to Santiago de Compostela, whose cathedral has a relic of St. James the Apostle.

According to Wright, religious tourism is, in fact, one of the oldest forms of tourism. “The first tour operator was Thomas Cook, a Baptist minister from England,” said Wright. “He took the first group to the Holy Land in 1861.” Cook’s business has grown into what is now one of the world’s largest travel agencies. Those who conduct tours say they’ve seen many changes since 1861.

Nick Mancino, president of New York-based Regina Tours, which leads between 150 to 200 tours per year, has also seen many changes over the past two decades. “Up until about 10 years ago, the Holy Land was one of the last places Catholics thought about going,” said Mancino. “But since the popes [Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI] have gone there, it has become a more popular destination.”

Other changes Mancino has seen include an increase in younger pilgrims and a desire for a more comfortable experience.

“In the old days, travelers went for two or three weeks. Because of cost and time, most travelers were retired,” said Mancino. “Now, younger people are traveling, and most travelers are going for only eight to 10 days at a time.”

“Thirty-five years ago, people didn’t care how they flew or where they stayed,” said Mancino. “Now, they’re more prone to ask how they’ll get there and whether the hotel is a one-star or four-star hotel.”

ASTA’s IDE 2010: Discover How to Build a Thriving Faith-based Travel Program Centered on the World's Top Religious Sites in the Holy Land

Read full story at http://www.asta.org/News/PRDetail.cfm?itemnumber=5937

Niche Session
Discover How to Build a Thriving Faith-based Travel Program Centered on the World's Top Religious Sites in the Middle East and Holy Land.
Moderator: Kevin J. Wright, President - World Religious Travel Association.
Panelists will include leading tourism representatives from Middle Eastern Destinations.

Travel agents will discover how to develop a thriving and diverse faith-based travel program centered on the great religious itineraries stretching across these ancient and biblically-rich lands such as Turkey, Armenia, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and much more. Attendees will return home equipped with the much-needed knowledge and strategies to immediately impact their faith-based travel program, no matter whether they are new to religious tourism or a long-term expert.

Qualified travel agents and journalists who register to attend IDE will also receive free accommodation for the four nights of the conference, April 19-22, in Istanbul. Check www.ASTA.org/expo to register for IDE and see which hotels are available. For more information or to register, go to ASTA.org/events.

ABOUT ASTA
ASTA's (American Society of Travel Agents) mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.

My interview at Going on Faith Conference

To view the Going on Faith Conference interview between GOF Editor Brian Jewell and myself, click here: http://bit.ly/GoingOnFaith2009KevinWright1

Topics covered include:
1) The growth of Religious Tourism
2) The outlook for Religious Tourism
3) The Christian Travel Planner guidebook

We just released our Expo 2009 video for interested Exhibitors

Check out our new Expo 2009 video for interested exhibitors: http://bit.ly/2009ExpoExhibitors

Fascinating pilgrimage idea: Combining the Theology of the Table with a Pilgrimage

The world of pilgrimage travel is very rich and diverse. For example, I recently learned from a friend of mine about who is hosting a fascinating and very unique pilgrimage to France that combines the Theology of the Table. To learn more visit http://www.thefeastonline.com/page or http://www.thefeastonline.com/page.asp?id=9. I've also listed below their story and theme behind the pilgrimage......

SPEND NEW YEAR'S EVE IN FRANCE!

This is going to be both a pilgrimage and a food workshop. We will be "on the road" in the legendary Provence of the South of France. Families, chefs, and monastery cooks are going to be met to speak about their way of life over authentic suppers, gourmet meals, and fresh picnics.

With the help of Daniel Rabourdin, both American resident and French citizen, we will be introduced to precious circles of faith at the foot of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and Saint Mary Magdeleine.

We will travel to old time sanctuaries, the names of which sound like legends. We will visit the cave of St. Mary Magdeleine at St. Beaume, nestled in a cliff, overlooking hundreds of miles of olive tree groves and wheat fields. Just an hour's drive away will transport us to the celebrated apparition site of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cotignac. Tradition going back to the King and the Queen of France gradually transformed this location into a shrine where, continuing through today, couples ask for children, singles for marriage, and separated spouses for reunion. Then, at the end of a one hour hike in the adjacent lush verdant fields ~ such as Monet and Gaughin saw them ~ we will arrive at the source where St. Joseph is said to have helped a shepherd.

In the afternoons, we will return to our retreat house and gather in the kitchen to learn cooking methods that will help us to bring back real dinners and reintroduce good wholesome food into our lives.

A home-cooked evening dinner with a French family will be organized for each of the travelers. Contact with Catholic France, within the heart of French families, is not easy to find anywhere else. At their dinner table with their children, you will personally experience first-hand what no book or other workshop can offer you. Some of the hosts will always speak some English. Friendships for a lifetime are sure to begin and develop during these intimate family dinner gatherings.

On New Year's Eve, you will mingle with two dozen young professionals and other local friends for a festive reception.

Father Pierre Dumoulin will be our guide in the faith throughout this retreat experience. Lauds, Mass, and Verspers will be available every day. Several of our pilgrims will come from a rich faithful background that you are certain to appreciate and will surely engender some vibrant conversations.

We debuted today our logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo

WRTA is proud to debut our logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo.....

Hosting Faith-based Travel Webcast with CCRA on Sep 30

Want to register for CCRA's Webcast with WRTA? Visit http://bit.ly/WebcastCCRAFaithTravel to register. For more information about the Webcast, see below.....

Title: Learn How to Succeed in Faith-Based Travel and Cruising
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT; 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

CCRA International and the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) invite you to discover one of tourism’s hottest new markets: Faith-based travel and cruising.

Did you know one in four Americans is interested in joining a faith-based trip? And did you know 2008 served as a record year for religious tourism in Israel, Jordan, Lourdes (France), and the like? Best yet…. 2010 is expected to be another banner year in religious tourism especially with world renowned events taking place such as Oberammergau’s Passion Play, Santiago de Compostela’s Holy Year, and the unveiling of the Shroud of Turin in Italy. With world-class tour operators and cruise companies recently entering the marketplace and debuting faith-based trips and vacations, there’s never been a better time for travel agents to get involved!

Join me and host Jon Fugler as we share the 5 key steps to experiencing extraordinary success in today’s hot new market: faith-based travel and cruising. Sign up now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Going on Faith Conference

I'm headed to the Going on Faith Conference this next week. For more info about the event, visit GOF Conference. Our organization, WRTA, will be exhibiting there - hope to see you there!

Religious Travel Buzz Newsletter (July 10)

Lead Story: WRTA Launches e-Library with 2,500+ Faith Tourism News Stories
How would you like immediate access to more than 2,500 top news stories and articles on faith tourism from 1998 through 2008 - and all categorized for your convenience? It's now possible. WRTA has just assembled and debuted the most comprehensive, categorized database of religious travel news stories on the Internet. More than 70 categories have been assigned and classified. All WRTA Members have access to this invaluable resource.

Top News Stories from WRTA, Members, and the Religious Travel Industry
3 Major Religious Travel Events in 2010
1. Breaking News! Pope Benedict just announced: Shroud of Turin will be displayed in 2010 2. Oberammergau hosts Passion Play
3. Holy Year in Santiago de Compostela - 10 million visitors expected

News Stories featuring WRTA Members
(Member: Jordan Tourism) Following Faith
(Member: Israel Tourism) Israel declares Holy Land refocus
(Member: Passport Health) Taking the bite out of travel - Wall St. Journal
(Member: Globus) Globus Predicts Growth In Faith-Based Vacations for 2010

New Stories featuring interviews with WRTA
Religious tourism is bright spot in downturn (AME Info/Middle East News)
Pilgrims boost luxury tourism (The National/United Arab Emirates)
Following Faith (Jo Publication/Jordan)
Millions opt for religious tourism (The Portugal News Online)
NTA Convention brings Faith-based Market to Delegates (Press Release)

More News Stories in Faith Tourism
USA
Colorado: Thank God for Conventions (Coloradoan)
Florida: Holy Land Trips in Florida?
Missouri: Faithful flock to Springfield (News Leader)
North Carolina: Winston-Salem targets religious groups for tourism dollars (Fox 8 News)
The RCMA Survey: The Religious Meetings Market

INTERNATIONAL
France: Pilgrimage to Chartres (PBS)
India: Kashmir Pilgrimage gets under way
Iraq has huge potential for religious tourism
Nepal and Religious Tourism (Travel and Leisure Magazine)
Poland: Study religious tourism in Krakow
Spiritual retreats cater to the mind, body, and soul
Summer missions: A Pastor's Checklist
Turkey: Destinations to discover in Turkey

New! Special Tours, Vacations, and Events
Welcome to the newest section of Religious Travel Buzz! With each future issue of "the Buzz," WRTA will feature select tours, vacations, and events for publication. This new section will enable travel agents, planners, and other buyers to discover special deals and itineraries that exist in faith tourism. If you wish to submit a trip/event for possible publication, here are the three criteria:
• Your company must be a current WRTA Member.
• Your company must be registered as a Tour Operator, Destination, or Supplier member (Note: Travel agent and planners do not qualify)
• Your tour, vacation, or event must feature one or both of the following attributes: - Feature some form of discount or other related incentive (i.e. special commissions). - Feature a very unique itinerary, vacation, or event.

Here are this week's chosen sample trips and events:
Mission Travel Group Hosting group trips to the 3 major religious travel events in 2010
MTS Travel A Pilgrimage to England with The Order of Julian of Norwich
Royal Caribbean: Holy Land Cruise with special deals

Are You a Religious Travel Expert? Take the Faith Tourism Quiz
Want to find out if you're "cutting edge" in today's religious travel industry?
Take the short 5 question quiz below and test your expertise level.

1. Who developed the world's first escorted group travel company?
(Hint: He was a Methodist minister from England).

2. What are the two largest religious groups in the U.S. market?

3. Name three reasons and/or "motives" behind religious travel purchases.

4. (True or False question) The Seven Churches of Revelation are located in Israel.

5. (True or False question) People of faith embark on a wide variety of leisure group vacations such as cruises and safaris.

How can you find the answers to the above questions?
Review your Religious Travel Market Educational Course (only Members have access). If you haven't studied and mastered the nearly 40-page educational course on faith tourism, now is the time. All success in religious travel begins with understanding today's marketplace.

Are You Maximizing Your Member Benefits?
Fill Out Your Own Report Card
Time for report cards. How do you think you and/or your company is doing in maximizing your WRTA Membership benefits? Would you give your company an "A" for a top grade or an "F" for failing.....or something in-between? Find out by filling out your own Membership Report Card.

Expo 2009 Update: More than 50 Booths Sold! Are You Registered Yet?
Despite challenging times in the travel industry, the World Religious Travel Expo is on target for welcoming more delegates than last year's historic inaugural 2008 Expo. In the past 3 months alone, more than 50 exhibit booths have been sold. Multiple Expo sponsorships have also been sold including among others the German National Tourist Office, Leipzig Tourism and Marketing Company, Routes to Luther, Reno-Tahoe CVA, Theatre Direct International, and Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center.

If your organization has not yet registered to attend or exhibit at this celebrated event, call WRTA today and secure your spot. Best locations on the tradeshow floor are quickly disappearing along with top sponsorship opportunities.

Just for Fun - Faith Tourism Links Galore
2009 Religious Travel Buyer's Guide
Brochure: Sponsorship and Exhibitor Guide to Expo 2009
Guidebooks: The Christian Travel Planner
Guidebooks: Catholic Shrines of Western Europe
Guidebooks: Europe's Monastery & Convent Guesthouses
Guidebooks: Marian Shrines of the United StatesVideos from WRTA Members
Video: Discover the World of Faith Tourism
Video: Experience the World Religious Travel Expo
Website: World Religious Travel Expo

World Religious Travel Expo Debuts Theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever

Lexington, Ky. (PRWEB) June 27, 2009 -- The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever" as its official theme for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo. The newly chosen motto will serve as the guiding principle and overall purpose of the three-day event.

"Our theme serves as an invitation to tap into the flourishing religious travel and hospitality industry," said WRTA president, Kevin J. Wright. "We all know this is a very trying time for many companies. However, as faith tourism provides new market and revenue possibilities, the World Religious Travel Expo provides organizations with a renewed opportunity to experience their best year yet."

Faith-based travel and hospitality has become an important new market segment for many tour operators, travel agents, destinations and suppliers in the industry. In the past year alone, the religious market has taken on even greater significance, due to its recession-proof and groups-dominated attributes. An estimated 75% of faith-based travelers prefer to travel in group settings while 80% would like to repeat their religious travel experience. Challenging times only serve to bring people of faith together in greater numbers for travel or convention purposes; providing a much needed "stimulus" to the industry.

WRTA recently opened registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.

A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Annual Convention, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking, and access to new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and www.WRTAexpo.com respectively.

World Religious Travel Association (WRTA):
WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA's primary purpose is to guide, enrich, and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe via the trade, consumer, and media. Its membership is comprised of accommodations, attractions, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices, transportation services, media and other key players in the tourism industry.

# # #

2010 to be a year of celebration at two major pilgrimage shrines

Religious Tourism is expected to have banner year in 2010. Many celebrations and events are taking place at shrines and pilgrimage places around the world. The following are amonng the top 3 religious events and celebrations in 2010:

(GERMANY) The every-decade Passion Play takes place in 2010 in Oberammergau, Germany.

(SPAIN) Santiago de Compostela to celebrate its Holy Year in 2010. An estimated 10 million pilgrims and visitors are expected.

(ITALY)The Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, is scheduled for the first time in 10 years to be displayed for the public in 2010.

If you are a travel provider for people of faith, be sure to integrate these itineraries into your portfolio. If you're a traveler, you might consider traveling to the Passion Play, Sanitago de Compostela, or to Italy to see the Shroud of Turin.

New printing of Catholic Shrines of Western Europe just released

An updated version and printing of my book Catholic Shrines of Western Europe - A Pilgrim's Travel Guide, was just released. It features a beautiful new cover (front and back), as well as new information on building a travel ministry, as well as fully updated contact info, websites, and email addresses for the shrines. Be sure to get a copy! Click here for more info or to buy the book: http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?sku=801020

Does your bookstore have a "Travel section"?

If your favorite faith-baesed bookstore does not have a "Travel section".....be sure to ask them about it and encourage them to add one. Along with The Christian Travel Planner, Europe's Monastery and Convent Guuesthouses, Holy Land travel books ....there are also many other guidebooks that are perfectly suited for a faith-based bookstore. Above all, by hosting a travel section, religious bookstores can better meet the needs of their customers while also enriching their mission and business.

How to Develop a Thriving Travel Ministry

My article on "How to Develop a Thriving Travel Ministry" was just published. Click here http://www.christianpress.com/travel/how-to-launch-a-thriving-christian-travel-ministry.html

Register to attend World Religious Travel Expo

Register today to attend this fall's World Religious Travel Expo 2009.

When? Nov 14-16, 2008

Where? Reno, Nevada (USA)

What is the official Expo website? Visit www.WRTAexpo.com

How can I register? Call 888-255-9782 or 859-219-3529 or email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com

Christianity Today features stories on travel and pilgrimage

Christianity Today features a number of wonderful and excellent stories in its April 2009 issue on travel and pilgrimage. You can just out some of the stories at http://www.christianitytoday.com or http://www.godrev.com/disprss/?/Christianity-Today-Mag/focus/2469432/Special-Section-Pilgrimage-and-Travel.html

Visit Thomas Nelson's Official Website for The Christian Travel Planner

Christian Travelers Guide: The Christian Travel Planner
Trade Paper
By Kevin J. Wright

The Christian Travel Planner will enable you to plan and prepare for memorable and life-changing experiences.


Discussing a multitude of trips, from Holy Land and European pilgrimage tours to mission trips and conference cruises, this book is accessible and user-friendly. Other vacations include fellowship vacations, camps, conventions, adventure vacations, and monastic guest-stays. Complete with stories, must-see descriptions, and website and travel reference information, this planner can also be used as a companion guide while traveling or simply from the comfort of your home, as you explore Christianity's famous sites via the computer. Learn how to begin or enrich a Christian travel ministry at your church, faith community, or organization. The Christian Travel Planner introduces readers to the world of faith-based travel and identifies the plethora of opportunities available to Christians planning a vacation.