Kevin Wright, who had been the religious travel manager for Globus and is the author of books on religious pilgrimages, has left the company, according to several reports.
He has started his own company, Religious Market Consulting, based in Littleton, Colo.
Mr Wright in 2004 started a separate Globus division for religious travel, based in the US.
His argument: A well-regarded estimate that 600,000 Americans travel overseas every year for religious purposes, making religious travel a $1 billion market.
The move was so successful that its religious travel business has tripled every year since the division was launched, according to Globus.
Mr Wright announced plans to launch the World Religious Travel Association in January, which he claims will be the first trade association for the religious travel market.
Report by David Wilkening