The Year of Faith Tourism 2009
 
 
What is The Year of Faith Tourism 2009?
A year dedicated to the promotion of and participation in Faith Tourism. All sectors of society are encouraged to become involved including the media, governments, travel providers/suppliers, and people of faith. The purpose and goal is three-fold:
 
  1. Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism.
  2. Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism.
  3. Contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry,    and individual travel providers – especially during a time of increasing challenges    and uncertainties.
 
 
Who is hosting The Year of Faith Tourism?
TheWorld Religious Travel Association (WRTA), the leading organization dedicated to the Faith Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
 
 
When is The Year of Faith Tourism?
The official announcement and promotion kicks-off on July 1, 2008. The official yearlong celebrations and activities take place January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009.
 
 
Why The Year of Faith Tourism?

Never before has a time been so ripe for the promotion of and participation in Faith Tourism. Although Faith Tourism is the historic forerunner of today’s mass tourism, only now is Faith Tourism beginning to making its presence and economic contributions known throughout society and the travel industry. Faith Tourism is one of the few markets that remains dependable and strong during “good and bad times” – whether economically, politically, globally, and so forth.

In recent years, Faith Tourism has evolved from a niche market driven primarily by budget pilgrimages and retired folks into a vast and dynamic industry comprised of more than 300 million travelers of all ages seeking a diverse range of quality travel experiences. Faith Tourism today includes pilgrimages, missions, volunteer vacations, events, conferences, cruises, leisure vacations, adventure trips, retreats, camps, monastic guest-stays, attractions, and virtually any other form of travel.

In short, Faith Tourism is today a thriving multi-billion dollar industry comprised of its own niche markets. Furthermore, Faith Tourism is an industry that is enjoying the vitality of a “growth spurt” stage. Taken all together, as 2009 is shaping up to be year of uncertainty on multiple fronts around the world and within mass tourism, there has never been a more opportune or needed time for placing Faith Tourism “front and center” of society and the global travel industry. With its special designation and spotlight in 2009 by the World Religious Travel Association, Faith Tourism is set to serve as an integral economic pillar and stimulus of the global and local economy during this special year of celebrations. And possibly best yet, Faith Tourism will enrich and enhance the very social fabric of society in which we live..
 
 
How can I become involved in The Year of Faith Tourism?
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has designated the following fifteen ways in which every person and sector of society can become involved in the promotion of and/or active participation in Faith Tourism.
 
  1. Individuals embark on travels with their faith community and/or to any faith-related destination.
  2. Individuals become group travel planners for their faith communities.
  3. Faith communities launch a formal travel program (or travel ministry).
  4. Faith communities host one or more group trips.
  5. Religious leaders preach on travel as ministry.
  6. Tourist boards and CVB’s dedicate resources towards attracting, growing, and measuring Faith Tourism.
  7. Travel, tourism, and hospitality providers integrate the faith market and consumer into their overall product, sales, and marketing plan and efforts.
  8. The travel industry further develops and enriches Faith Tourism educational resources and business materials.
  9. Tour director schools integrate faith tourism curriculum.
  10. Media feature and report on stories about Faith Tourism.
  11. Film and other related companies produce faith travel programs, documentaries, and series.
  12. Publishers launch or expand faith travel publications including guidebooks, magazines, and other periodicals.
  13. Religious bookstores and gift-stores implement Travel sections.
  14. Colleges and universities undertake the study of Faith Tourism and/or offer Faith Tourism classes.
  15. Religious governing bodies promote and advance the theology of Faith Tourism.
Opportunities to Get Personally or Professionally involved with the World Religious Travel Association:
 
 
 
Invitation to promote and participate in The Year of Faith Tourism
The World Religious Travel Association invites every individual, faith community, media outlet, travel provider/supplier, government, and destination to promote and participate in Faith Tourism in 2009....The Year of Faith Tourism.
 
   
Copyright 2008 World Religious Travel Association.
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