Register today for ASTA IDE Istanbul, Turkey April 19-22, 2010

ASTA Rates Increase March 1st, Register NOW and Save!

Attending this year's International Destination Expo will provide you with a unique opportunity to learn about the fascinating destination of Turkey. Featuring education that focuses on training you to become an expert and networking with local companies, IDE equips you with the skills to exceed your clients' expectations!

Gain certifications of your expertise in exciting new sessions such as ASTA's newest destination specialist course: Turkey, the Cradle of Civilization: a Walk through 10,000 Years of History.

IDE will also host a panel discussion, Discover How to Build a Thriving Faith-based Travel Program Centered on the World's Top Religious Sites in the Middle East and the Holy Land, featuring leading tourism representatives from Middle Eastern destinations. Don't miss this exciting event!

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

Join Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), and leading tourism representatives from the Middle East, for an unforgettable and unprecedented discussion on the world’s top religious and holy sites in this extraordinary part of the world. Furthermore, discover firsthand 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.

Not only will you be inspired and fascinated by the discussions, but just as importantly, you’ll return home equipped with the much-needed knowledge and strategies to immediately impact your faith-based travel program ... no matter whether you are new to religious tourism or a long-term expert. Best of all, this remarkable discussion and seminar will be held in Istanbul (Turkey) ... not only the very crossroads and place where “East Meets West,” but also where the history of faith and religion spans the millenniums.

Register NOW to receive 4 nights complimentary hotel stay* in Istanbul -- hurry, space is limited!

*Space is limited. Offer is first-come, first-served while supplies last.

Religious Travel Top 10 Travel Trend for 2010 (USA TODAY)

The top ten travel trends for 2010
USA Today
By Laura Bly

Religious Travel as Top 10 Travel Trend for 2010.

Read full story at http://bit.ly/USATODAYReligiousTravelTopTrend2010

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.