Religious tourism: A new era, a dynamic industry
Welcome to a New Era
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “religious travel?” If you’re like most of us, four thoughts probably come to the forefront: niche market, budget travel, pilgrimages, and seniors.
If you hold the above four perceptions of religious tourism, you would be considered “cutting edge” of this industry… in 1975. Yes – that’s right. If you think of religious travel as a niche market of budget pilgrimages for seniors, you are thirty years behind the curve.
Now, let me bring you up to date. Today religious travel, tourism, and hospitality is a dynamic $18-billion global industry with 300 million travelers. In North America alone, it is estimated at $10 billion. The Travel Industry Association of America reported last November that one in four travelers are currently interested in “spiritual vacations.” The appeal spans the ages with approximately one-third of each age group (18-34, 35-54, and 55+) expressing interest in taking such a vacation. And according to some reports, more than 50,000 churches and religious organizations host travel programs. Few other travel industry segments can boast such impressive numbers.
But that’s not all. In the past three decades, people of faith have changed their spending habits and today purchase first-class products and services. Just think of it as this: first-class travel is in, budget travel is out.
And now, possibly the biggest story of all. Religious tourism in the 21st century no longer constitutes only pilgrimage and missionary travel; rather, in the modern-world it embraces the following twelve vacation segments:
* Pilgrimages
* Missionary
* Cruises
* Leisure/getaways
* Conferences/conventions
* Destinations/attractions
* Retreats/guesthouses
* Christian camps
* Adventure/active
* Volunteer vacations
* Student/youth
* Family/intergenerational
By Kevin Wright
Courtesy of grouptravelblog.com
For full article please click here
Chitra Mogul
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025