Faith-Based Travel Is The Most Expansive Market Segment In Tourism Industry

Faith Tourism or Faith Vacations, as they are known in some parts of the world, is an age-old travel practice that has come full-circle in the past few years.

Today, faith-based travel is the most expansive market segment in tourism industry, second only to adventure travel.  Latest trends in faith tours reveal that it is largely focused on three hotspots- across three continents. Italy-Portugal-France-Spain, Turkey-Holy Land and Jordan are the most favored circuit, closely followed by the Indian religious places across the Indian subcontinent. The third spreads across Japan – Nepal- as well as the Tibetan state for those inclined to discover and learn more of Buddhism.
 

Religious travel an ancient practice

Civilizations across the world have explored religious travel – from Buddhist monasteries in remote Oriental countries; to the Kabba in the Middle of Asia.  However, modern Faith Tours different in the format and the innovative packaging and planning ; where great attention is paid to minute details so that you have a well-explored and satiated faith tour.  The reasons and the travel groups that indulge in Faith Travel are as varied as the destinations you can choose to travel.

To ensure that you do not miss the most popular faith-religious destinations this year, we have curated a short list on how you could plan your travel-

First and the most simplest of plans would be to draw up a Faith-based Travel Plan.  Check if your local tour operator/agent has such a travel plan for you. Otherwise, you could always customize a special travel package for yourself if you are a small group of 10 -20 or a large congregation. This type of plan will ensure you will cover plenty of destinations so all your co-travelers get to visit their most favorite religious destination. As of last count, you could have options of visiting more than 20 countries.

The Second Travel Plan that has proved to be successful is the Religious Site visit itinerary. This plan will allow you to traverse from the historical to the modern, Old to New Testament. With religious sites located in biblical lands to the Vatican for a glimpse of the Pope. Whether it is the healing waters of Lourdes or the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments — Mt. Sinai, choosing to visit religious sites will prove to be a winner of a Religious Tour.

Third, you could opt for the Traditional Sightseeing Plan. This is probably the best plan ever for faith travelling. With a detailed itinerary, you will be able to visit common or traditional sightseeing places, be it the Egyptian Pyramids or the Loch Ness and religious tourist places in the neighborhood.

Russia: Modern Faith Travel Niche

Interior parts of Russia are a emerging as a niche religious destination not just for the rare practices but for the classic Church architecture, that leaves one rapturous.  Faith Tourism is now mainstream travel option not just for the old but the very young who want to discover spirituality.

Modern Faith Tourism offers great options for meaning travel that not only brings solace to the mind and body, but if planned prudently, is good on the pocket as well!

TravelMole Staff Writer