WRTA to represent $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry
Two of the most recognized faith-based travel industry authorities have launched the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) to advise, build and connect the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry.
Kevin J. Wright , President of the Religious Market Consulting Group, and Honnie Korngold, President of the Christian Travel Finder are the founders.
They say they have established the organization in response to the growing demand for faith-based vacations and the increasing number of tourism companies entering or expanding their presence within the industry.
“WRTA’s overall mission is simple and clear: We will advise and assist the travel industry in working with the religious market, and establish faith-based vacations as a key travel option for the religious consumer,” said Kevin J. Wright, Executive Director of WRTA.
The association comes at a pivotal stage in the burgeoning faith-based travel industry that, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), is one of the fastest growing travel segments.
Last November, the Travel Industry Association of America released survey findings that “one-quarter of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a spiritual vacation (religious retreat, pilgrimage), and that the appeal of a spiritual vacation spans the ages, with approximately one-third of age groups 18 to 55+ expressing current interest in taking such a vacation.”
Last October, the International Conference on Religious Tourism (ICORET), held in Cyprus, estimated the size of the faith-based travel industry at $18 billion.
In November 1998, the World Travel Market in London released research that identified faith-based travel as one of the top critical issues and trends in travel and tourism in the 21st century.
With an initial focus on the North American religious market and consumer, the WRTAassociation plans to expand throughout the world as emerging markets mature and consumer demand increases. The three major goals of the association are:
· Advise and assist the worldwide travel industry in marketing, selling and developing product for the North American religious market and consumer.
· Build faith-based vacation and travel ministry opportunities for North American religious consumers.
· Connect the worldwide travel industry and the North American religious consumer (via various channels, venues and networking opportunities).
WRTA says it will promote every aspect of religious travel including escorted touring, cruising, missionary travel, adventure trips, FIT/Independent travel, attractions, retreats, conferences, and conventions/meetings.
WRTA also will launch the first-ever awards for the religious travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Winners will be announced in December, 2007 and will include categories such as “Tour Operator of the Year,” “Travel Agent of the Year,” “Religious Attraction of the Year,” and “Religious Destination of the Year.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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