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Faith Tourism and Timeshare Use Bring Strength to U.S. Economy PART 2 November 15, 2008

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, General, New Features, News & Events, Travel, Uncategorized , add a comment

Faith tourism is one of the oldest forms of travel in the world. People have been making pilgrimages, and traveling great distances to acquire knowledge and spiritual enlightenment for millennia. Kevin J. Wright is president of World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) and author of several religious travel guidebooks. The Colorado-based tourism association is comprised of travel providers and consumers around the globe. Recently Wright hosted the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference. This was the first gathering of this worldwide marketplace. Representatives from 30 countries across 6 continents gathered to discuss the position of faith tourism.

This assembly is a testament to the potential this pious sector of the industry holds for U.S prosperity. According to the WRTA, the faith tourism industry generates $18 billion annually with 300 million faith-based travelers. “2009 is the year of faith tourism.” It is reportedly so popular that the travel industry is hoping to capitalize on it. “Faith tourism has evolved to the point where a gathering of this magnitude is necessary for the industry to respond to the need of today’s faith-based consumers” said Wright—“Especially during times of increasing challenges and uncertainty.”

There is the increasing market in the U.S. that has the potential to make a great contribution to the current economic state. During the 2009 WRTA Expo and Educational Conference, they stated the goal of the market is to contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry and individual travel providers. Wendy Fracchia—group coordinator at Morris Murdock Travel LLC, a Utah-based full-service travel agency brings folks on guided tours to church historical destinations.

“You have those of Jewish faith traveling to Israel, Catholics visiting Italy and Muslims traveling to Mecca. Faith-based travel is an important part of the industry as a whole. So we have a lot of experience,” Fracchia said. “We offer our clients fully guided tours to Church historical destinations such as Palmyra, New York; Nauvoo, Illinois; Kirtland, Ohio; Independence, Missouri; and many more destinations. We also have Book of Mormon tours to Honduras, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala that are a wonderful mix of cultural studies, history, and adventure as you walk amongst the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan ruins.”