New Survey Encourages Faith In Faith-Based Travel
According to a new religious travel study* conducted by TravelStyles and commissioned by the Globus family of brands, 35 percent of all outbound travelers are interested in taking a religious vacation. And, 17 percent hope to do so in the next five years. At 16.3 million travelers, the potential market for international religious vacations is sizable. Perhaps more impressive, is the fact that it’s grown nearly 5 percent since 2007, despite difficult economic conditions.
"Travel is the one thing you can buy that leaves you richer," said Mike Schields, managing director of groups and emerging markets for the Globus family of brands. "When you take a religious vacation, you become rich with memories, knowledge and a deepened sense of faith and spirituality. That’s why faith-based travel is a segment of the industry that has been more resilient than other forms of travel."
Globus’ new religious travel research supports this notion given that half (49 percent) of religious travelers view a faith-based vacation as something they need to do to enhance their faith. And, half (51 percent) also feel more comfortable spending on a religious vacation than a "regular" vacation. Further, according to this same study, 25 percent of travelers are using a faith-based vacation as a motivator to travel internationally for the first time.
"It’s the memorable spiritual stories you ‘live’ on faith-based vacations that give you the chance to do more than simply see the world’s greatest sights," said Schields. "You also experience the history and culture of each destination while exploring the faith and fellowship that moved the world forward."
And, while the majority of potential religious travelers are motivated by the opportunity to deepen their faith (58 percent), visit the world’s most inspiring destinations (57 percent) and explore the historic roots of their religion (53 percent) on a faith-based vacation, nearly half (45 percent) would like to simply have fun on their journey. To showcase this further, the TravelStyles survey found that 42 percent of religious travelers are looking for a 50/50 blend of activities (50 percent religious/50 percent non-religious activities).
"We get it. A faith-based journey should feel as special – and fun – as it does spiritual," said Schields. "With Globus, travelers can venture through Grand Catholic Italy while also experiencing the glory of the Roman ruins. They can take in the Marian Shrines of Spain and Portugal while savoring paella, tapas and regional wines. Or bring the Old Testament to life in Israel and Jordan while witnessing marvels like the Dead Sea or Petra."
According to Schields, faith-based travel is the perfect way to build community by intimately exploring the roots and stories of faith with fellow believers. So, it’s no surprise that nearly 70 percent of those surveyed said they’re more likely to choose a group tour for their religious travel experience than going it alone.
Geoff Ceasar
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