Religious Tourism News

John Paul II beatification ceremony to draw a million pilgrims to Rome

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed a miracle attributed to his predecessor, John Paul II, paving the way for him to be beatified at a ceremony which could draw up to a million pilgrims to Rome.
Article link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8260125/John-Paul-II-beatification-ceremony-to-draw-a-million-pilgrims-to-Rome.html

2nd World Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:26:00 +0000

The 2nd World Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy which will take place in Krakow, October 2011. The year 2011 will bring the 80th anniversary of Jesus appearing to Faustina Kowalska and revealing to her the message of Divine Mercy. It is also the 70th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Maximilian Kolbe.

Website of the 2nd World Apostolic Congress:
http://www.worldapostoliccongressonmercy.org

The above information provided by:
Pawel Baczek
Sales Director

JAN-POL Incoming Tour Operator Sp. z o.o.
ul. Misiolka 8, 31-525 Krakow, Poland
tel: +48 12 421 42 06
fax: +48 12 421 27 26
e-mail: janpol@janpol.com ; www.janpol.com

Organ rejestrowy: Sad Rejonowy dla Krakowa - Srodmiescia w Krakowie
XI Wydzial Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sadowego
KRS: 0000227346
NIP 676-22-83-637
Kapital zakladowy: 60 000,00 PLN

Creation museum to build theme park

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:58:00 +0000

Full article at
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/01/v-print/1548034/creation-museum-to-get-wooden.html

By Shawntaye Hopkins - shopkins@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear announced plans Wednesday morning for a new tourist attraction in Northern Kentucky that will include a wooden ark and a theme park.

The governor made the announcement during a news conference at the Capitol Building in Frankfort. Representatives of Answers in Genesis, which opened the Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky about three years ago, will partner with other investors in the project.

The park, called the Ark Encounter, will be on 800 acres off Interstate 75 in Grant County and is expected to be complete by 2014. Answers in Genesis will handle daily operations of the theme park.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/01/1548034/creation-museum-to-get-wooden.html#ixzz16tMqeOL3

Just Published: Frommer's Jerusalem Day by Day

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:30:00 +0000

Frommer's Jerusalem Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day: Jerusalem)
Buzzy Gordon (Author)

Product Description from Amazon
Frommer's Jerusalem will guide readers through this historic city and the best of the neighboring sites, quickly and with an insider's knowledge of the extraordinary experiences found here. With hundreds of color photos, dozens of annotated maps and walking tours, thematic tours for every taste and star-rated advice on where to eat, stay, shop, and have fun, this book is the perfect accompaniment to any visit.

From the Back Cover
20 Self-guided Tours. 31 Maps. One Great Trip.
At last, a travel guide that tells you how to see the best of everything—in the smartest, most time-efficient way.

* The best of Jerusalem in one, two, or three days
* Thematic tours for every interest, schedule, and taste
* Walking tours of the city's best-loved neighborhoods
* Hundreds of evocative color photos
* Bulleted maps that show you how to get from place to place
* Hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife for all budgets
* A tear-resistant foldout map—enclosed in a handy plasticwallet you can also use for tickets and souvenirs

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Frommers; Pap/Map edition (November 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470676361
ISBN-13: 978-0470676363

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Buzzy Gordon is the author of Frommer's Jerusalem Day by Day Guide (published by Wiley & Co). Over the course of his 30-year career spanning more than 75 countries, the award-winning journalist has been a reporter, copy editor, columnist, bureau chief and travel writer on five continents.

In 2007, he became a regular contributor to the travel section of USA Today, a national newspaper with a circulation of more than 2.3 million.

After being one of the team of writers that compiles USA Today's 10 Great Places column, Gordon was invited to write for Globorati.com, a leading website for luxury travel news, and for Travel Agent Magazine and Luxury Travel Advisor. He is a roving correspondent for LuxuryWeb.com and JohnnyJet.com, as well as a contributor to Away.com (of the Orbitz network). His articles have also appeared in National Geographic Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Hispanic Magazine, Americas Magazine, Executive Traveler, About.com and Jewish publications worldwide.

Before becoming a full-time travel writer, Gordon was published in such prestigious media outlets as The Washington Post and The World & I Magazine and was quoted in The New York Times and Newsweek.

While he accepts a wide variety of assignments, Gordon specializes in international luxury travel, particularly to Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceania and Latin America. Additional areas of focus include ethnicity and culture, rail travel, gastronomy and health and wellness spas. He writes extensively on Jewish communities around the world and is an advocate for sustainable tourism.
Contact Buzzy Gordon: buzzygo@gmail.com

Article on Religious Tourism by Travel Market Report

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:56:00 +0000

November 15, 2010
Faith-Based, Religious Travel Strong and Growing
Website link: http://www.travelmarketreport.com/leisure?articleID=4545&LP=1
By Dori Saltzman, Travel Market Report

WRTA Debuts Special Offer for World Religious Travel Expo: “Bring Agent/Planner, Both Go For Free”

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:54:00 +0000

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) announced its “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go for Free” campaign for its upcoming Expo. Travel agents seeking new sources of revenues and clientele, while being mindful of their budgets, can bring a fellow travel agent professional or group planner, such as a religious leader or travel ministry organizer, to the November 13-16 World Religious Travel Expo in Montreal. Both will receive complimentary registration; regular admission for a travel agent or planner is $35.

“We are very excited to roll out this new special offer for Expo buyers and attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The promotional campaign is in response to hearing from many travel agents and planners that finances are their top concern. If we can somehow help alleviate this challenge for them, they’ll then be able to successfully attend the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo.”

Wright views the program as a win-win arrangement. “If a travel agent brings another travel agent or planner, not only do they both go for free, but it also helps WRTA and our Expo by increasing the overall number of qualified attendees for sellers,” Wright said. “Everybody wins in this scenario.”

To take advantage of the special offer by WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo, the following criteria must be met:
• A sponsoring travel agent must contact WRTA staff and provide registration information for the travel agent(s) or planner(s) he or she wishes to bring to the Expo.
• The travel agents and planners who are accompanying the sponsoring travel agent will be contacted by WRTA to verify their contact information and affiliation with the sponsoring travel agent.
• Once the sponsoring and contact information of all parties is verified by WRTA staff, the registrations will be processed (and Expo registration fees waived).
• The “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go For Free” offer is valid ONLY through the pre-registration period, ending on Friday, November 5, 2010. The offer is not valid after November 5, 2010, or on-site in Montreal.

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering, with hundreds of professionals and tourism organizations from more than 30 countries in attendance. November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second consecutive year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion and networking, along with access to new markets.

For more information about the special offer, contact the World Religious Travel Association by phone at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters(at)WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit http://www.wrtaexpo.com/. You can also find WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo on Facebook.

The World Religious Travel Association is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA's primary purpose is to guide, enrich and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe. WRTA membership includes travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, attractions, accommodations, suppliers, media and other organizations involved in tourism. For more information visit http://www.wrtareligioustravel.com/ or http://www.wrtaexpo.com/.

PyroMarketing - A New Way to Think About Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:02:00 +0000

"The era of mass marketing is ending. The promotion of a single product or service to everyone through undifferentiated media reached its peak in the 1960's and its success convinced most marketers it was the only way." (from www.pyromarketing.com). Join Greg Stielstra at the World Religious Travel Expo in Montréal to discover his revolutionary PyroMarketing principles and apply them to your business! Learn more about PyroMarketing by watching this quick video from Creo Productions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N339VkrzNTA

CTV News Channel Regarding Brother Andre's Canonization as Canadian Saint

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Here's the link to the article featuring my interview on CTV News Channel (Canada):

Read full story here: http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101017/brother-andre-canonized-101017/20101017/?hub=OttawaHome

Selections of article:
His elevation to sainthood will carry some worldly benefits for St. Andre's hometown, according to Kevin Wright, the president of the U.S.-based world religious travel association.

"When an individual is declared a saint, their shrines attract significant numbers of visitors," Wright told CTV News Channel. "And we're going to see that in Montreal."

He said that while the oratory that St. Andre founded is not as big a draw as sites like the French shrine at Lourdes, it already attracts an estimated one million pilgrims a year.

And Wright said that St. Andre's sanctification will only boost those numbers.

"Over the next couple of years we could see that double and get up to three, four or even five million people. And that's incredible."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the newly canonized St. Andre was "a great Canadian."

"Brother Andre's canonization is an important inspiration to us all, and the Oratory will continue to serve as a central landmark of spiritual strength and faith for Quebecers and all Canadians."

WRTA President to Appear on CTV News Channel Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:37:00 +0000

As part of the media attention garnered by Brother André’s canonization by Pope Benedict this weekend, WRTA President Kevin J. Wright will be interviewed on CTV News Channel Sunday about how this great event and the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo will boost faith-based tourism in Montréal.
CTV News Channel: http://www.ctv.ca/newschannel/

Canonization will boost Montreal tourism

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:32:00 +0000

Read full story at
http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/life/article/653171--canonization-will-boost-montreal-tourism

MONTREAL - Having a newly minted saint in town isn't just good news for Montreal's faithful — it will also likely bring a few hallelujahs from the city's travel industry.

The canonization of Brother Andre by Pope Benedict on Oct. 17 will not only spur some special events in Montreal but will also have long-lasting effects on the marketing of the city as a religious tourism destination, observers say.

"Once somebody is canonized, that really shoots it through the roof," says Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association, which is holding its annual trade show in Montreal in November.

Wright said besides all the media attention Montreal will get because of the canonization, the papal nod to one of its local sons will be an incentive for faith-based tour operators to push Montreal itineraries in their packages.

Read full story at http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/life/article/653171--canonization-will-boost-montreal-tourism

40-plus Industry Experts Headline Industry’s Largest Faith Tourism Business Seminar Program at Expo 2010

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:23:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The World Religious Travel Association business seminars for the November 13–16 World Religious Travel Expo 2010 will serve as the industry’s most comprehensive educational program on faith-based tourism and hospitality. The two-day curriculum will feature 40-plus industry experts, including several published authors. For the third straight year, travel agents and providers can earn up to three continuing educational units through The Travel Institute www.thetravelinstitute.com by attending and participating in the Expo business and educational seminar program.

“As sharing business acumen and education about the religious travel market is a key mission of WRTA and our annual Expo, we are ecstatic about this year’s lineup of speakers and seminars,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The topics cover virtually every segment of the industry from product development to sales to consumer service to word-of-mouth-marketing and much more. In addition, we’ll host several open forums whereby delegates can ask their own questions and share stories of success with fellow religious travel professionals, colleagues and experts.”

The business and educational seminar topics for the World Religious Travel Expo 2010 include:

• Who is Today’s Religious Traveler Consumer? How Can You Best Serve Them?
• How to Most Effectively Market and Sell to today’s Religious Travel Consumer.
• How Can You Find the Right Tour/Ground Operator for Your Religious Travel Program—and Why is it Key to Your Success?
• Discover the Holy Land and Enrich Your Biblical Lands Portfolio.
• Develop a Winning and Diverse Portfolio to the World’s Most Visited Religious Sites.
• Discover Faith-based Vacations, Attractions, & Events—Right Here in North America.
• Enrich Your Religious Travel Program with New Faith-based Vacations: Cruises, Volunteer Vacations, Local Getaways, Attractions and Much More.
• Open Forum: Q&A with Biblical Lands Representatives.
• Open Forum: Q&A Plus Discover New Ideas for Your Religious Travel Program.
• Open Forum: Q&A with International Ground Operators for Your Religious Travel Program.

In addition, two prominent published authors, Keith Powell and Greg Stielstra, will host the following business and educational seminars at Expo 2010:

• Igniting the Creative Spark for Your Faith Based Business—Keith Powell, The Business Revivalist and Author of The Transforming Power of Achievement
• Discover the Principles of PyroMarketing—Greg Stielstra, Author of Pyromarketing and Faith-based Marketing

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering with more than 500 travel professionals and tourism organizations from over 30 countries in attendance. This November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion, networking and access to new markets.

For more information about attending the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit http://www.wrtaexpo.com/

Catering for Religious Tourism (The National)

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:24:00 +0000

By Rebecca Bundhun
Read full article at http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?l=2&articleId=54087

In the past, pilgrimages lacked the trappings of luxurious trips, with travellers organising their own arrangements. But that is rapidly changing.  “Only now is the global travel industry beginning to recognise the tremendous impact and opportunity of assisting and servicing the millions of people who travel to the Middle East for religious purposes,” says Kevin Wright, the president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA).

About 300 million religious tourists travel annually. Apart from Muslim pilgrimages, millions of visitors travel regularly to religious sites in France, Italy and India.   “This has resulted in more major tour operators, hotels and other suppliers entering the marketplace than ever before,” says Mr Wright.  To capitalise on the demand for religious trips to Saudi Arabia, there are now scores of tour operators all over the world that specialise in selling packages for the Haj and Umrah.

Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?l=2&articleId=54087

Israel names new North American Tourism Commissioner

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:05:00 +0000

Article link: http://www.travelpress.com/PHP/news.php?sid=11726

Haim Gutin has been appointed Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, taking over from Arie Sommer who returns to Jerusalem at the completion of his second term in the post. Prior to his posting to New York, Gutin was the Israel Ministry of Tourism’s senior deputy director-general for Human Resources and Logistics, based in Jerusalem. During his tenure in Jerusalem at the headquarters of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Gutin served in a variety of posts including director of the marketing administration’s European department; supervisor of the domestic tourism promotion and marketing department and supervisor for the Jerusalem District’s Tourism Product Department.

Expo 2010: Your Registration Goes Further

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:22:00 +0000

This November, the World Religious Travel Expo will co-locate with the NTA Convention.

This means your WRTA Expo registration dollars go further, providing access to the largest gathering of religious travel providers and suppliers in the world, as well as the tour operators, suppliers and destinations at NTA’s Convention—all on one tradeshow floor!

With a combined 2,000-plus travel professionals in attendance, this incredible opportunity of two shows in one destination is a “one-stop shop” for all your planning and religious travel program needs.

Highlights of Expo 2010 include:
• Back by popular demand, North America’s top faith marketing expert Greg Stielstra will keynote at Expo 2010 in Montreal. Stielstra is co-author of Faith-based Marketing and the mastermind behind the strategy of “PyroMarketing.”
• Meet and network with tour operators, suppliers, and destinations from across 30 countries.

• Attend the industry’s most comprehensive educational program in religious tourism and hospitality.
How Can You Receive a FREE Expo Fam Trip to Quebec’s Shrines?
The first 25 buyers to register for Expo 2010 will enjoy a complimentary VIP Fam tour of Montréal valued at $500.

How to Register for Expo Today?
Register online
Register by Phone: 888.255.9782, Ext 101 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.219.3529
Register by e-mail: headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com

World Religious Travel Expo 2010 to Feature Greg Stielstra

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:50:00 +0000

World Religious Travel Expo 2010 to Feature Greg Stielstra
Article link http://www.vacationagentmagazine.com/Editorial.aspx?n=75516

North America’s top faith marketing expert Greg Stielstra will keynote for the second year at the World Religious Travel Expo 2010. Stielstra is the co-author of “Faith-Based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers” and the mind behind the strategy of “PyroMarketing” to help businesses reach and retain markets. Stielstra also served as the marketing director behind “The Purpose Driven Life,” a faith-based marketing phenomenon and the fastest selling hardcover book in American history. Stielstra worked in marketing for Christian publishers for 17 years where he planned the promotions for dozens of bestselling books. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based and social network marketing, Stielstra is the author of two books – “PyroMarketing: the Four-Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them for Life” and “Faith-Based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers.”

“People have long known that word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of advertising,” said Stielstra. “What they may not realize, however, is that faith communities spread word-of-mouth more effectively than any other group. What’s more, people of faith represent the largest demographic segment in the world. When you combine the size and connectivity of the faith community with new social media technologies, you can create incredibly powerful opportunities to promote religious travel that are also affordable. I look forward to sharing this good news with religious travel professionals and seeing them use it to further advance religious travel worldwide.”

The World Religious Travel Expo has developed into the pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering with more than 500 travel professionals and tourism organizations from 30-plus countries in attendance. This November’s World Religious Travel Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members unprecedented opportunities for education, business expansion, networking, and new market opportunities. For more information, call 888-255-WRTA (9782), email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com or visit www.WRTAexpo.com.

Source: TravelPulse.com - Aug 20, 2010 / © 2010 Performance Media Group

Town business association sees national shrine as tourist draw

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Originally published August 24, 2010
Read full story at
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/business/display.htm?StoryID=108939

By Ike Wilson
News-Post Staff

Emmitsburg -- Allen Knott has worked in Emmitsburg for five years and served as the treasurer for the town's business association over the same period.
However, Knott had not visited one of the town's tourism icons -- the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -- until Thursday, when the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association toured the facility.

He was impressed.

"I was in awe of the display and St. Elizabeth Seton's life from her time in Europe to when she came back to the United States," Knott said.

The 60-acre facility is more than a captivating memorial to a saint.

With 380 employees, the shrine boosts Emmitsburg 's economic development in several ways, the visitors said following the tour.

Religious tourism is an increasingly growing industry and the shrine offers an opportunity for pilgrims to walk in a saint's footsteps without having to travel to Europe or the Holy Land, said John Fieseler, the county's executive director for tourism.

To read the full story click on the link at the top.

Bulgaria, Relics, and Religious Tourism (Wall Street Journal article)

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Read full story at http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704216804575423673016971944.html

By JOE PARKINSON
SOZOPOL, Bulgaria—Archaeologists and clerics here say they have unearthed bones belonging to John the Baptist, an itinerant preacher revered by many Christians as the last of the Old Testament prophets.

Bulgaria's government is looking to the discovery for salvation—of a financial sort.

The remains, including a skull fragment and a tooth, were uncovered last month during the excavation of a fourth-century monastery on St. Ivan Island, off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. They were in a sealed reliquary buried next to a tiny urn inscribed with St. John's name and his birth date.

Officials of this recession-scarred country think the purported relics will give a big boost to tourism, drawing believers from neighboring Orthodox Christian countries to this nearby resort town,

Tens of millions of dollars have already been earmarked to prepare for an anticipated surge in visitors. Construction crews are enlarging the port and building a big new parking lot. Tour guides are being rewritten and new signs are going up to direct people to the relics.

Read rest of the story at the Wall Street Journal.....

Bulgaria Hopes Recent Archaeology Discovery Will Help Save Economy

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:54:00 +0000

Read story: http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/2200
BalkanTravellers.com

16 August 2010 Bulgaria is looking to the recent discovery of what are claimed to be the relics of Saint John the Baptist for salvation of the country’s economy, The Wall Street Journal recently reported.

As BalkanTravellers.com wrote, an archaeology team – led by Professor Kazimir Popkonstantinov, discovered a few weeks ago relics, consisting of parts of bones from the arm and leg, as well as a tooth and a facial bone, on the island of Saint Ivan near the Black Sea town of Sozopol.

In claims that quickly gave rise to controversy within archaeological circles as well as society at large, the relics were said to have belonged to Saint John the Baptist.

“Officials of this recession-scarred country think the purported relics will give a big boost to tourism,” the publication noted, “drawing believers from neighboring Orthodox Christian countries” to the town of Sozopol, where the relics are now displayed in a church.

“Tens of millions of dollars have already been earmarked to prepare for an anticipated surge in visitors,” according to the publication, and the town’s port is already being enlarged, tour guides rewritten and new signs are going up to direct people to the relics.

Although the relics’ authenticity has not yet been confirmed and has given rise to controversy among both international and local religious, scientific, civil and governmental institutions, news of the find is already attracting visitors to Sozopol.

The Church of Saint George, where the supposed relics are now displayed has seen its daily attendance rise from about 100 to more than 3,000.

To help pull Bulgaria – the EU’s poorest member state, out of its worst recession since the collapse of communism here 20 years ago, the government is looking to promote tourism.

“I'm not religious but these relics are in the premier league,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Dyankov told the publication. The relics’ “revenue potential for Bulgaria is clear,” he says, adding that he wants to double government spending on the development of religious tourism so “we can make this history profitable.”

Meanwhile, according to the publication, business in Sozopol continues to languish. “The government are telling us the town will become the next Jerusalem,” hotel owner Stanimir Stoyanov told The Wall Street Journal. “We just hope that they're right.”

Read more about Bulgaria on BalkanTravellers.com
Use BalkanTravellers.com's tips to organize your trip to Bulgaria

Religious tourism could get boost from canonization of Brother André

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Full article: http://www.cjad.com/news/565/1188077

With the canonization of Brother Andre set for October, there are renewed calls to develop the potential of Quebec's religious tourism.

A study is underway by a former director of Quebec's Tourism Bureau to mine the potential of religious tourism in the province, and to publicize sites such as St Joseph Oratory in Montreal and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec City. Tourism analysts say the possible growth is considerable: 20% a year over the next 15 years.

Quebec may be a long way away from being a destination like the Vatican but Dr. Clarence Epstein, Concordia University's director of special projects and cultural affairs in the Office of the President, says the government can start taking steps now.

"It's going to take more than just the religious or the individual to bring tourists here. It's going to take a combination of factors that make Quebec such an interesting place to visit," Epstein tells CJAD News.

And that includes preserving and developing abandoned places of worship.

"We have to make those buildings alive again because the congregations that are leaving them now are certainly not going to give us much hope for how we handle our heritage going forward."
The religious tourism market is estimated at $18-billion dollars worldwide, $10-billion of that in North American.

"The churches of Quebec are what the castles are to Europe," Epstein says.

"And if (tourism officials and the government) play on that, and use that as part of its heritage strategy for marketing Quebec as a destination for whether it's religious or heritage tourism, then there's a larger opportunity of succeeding and convincing people to come and visit us."

2010-2011 Religious Travel Buyer's Guide Just Published

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:31:00 +0000

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has just published its 2010-2011 RELIGIOUS TRAVEL BUYER'S GUIDE. The publication is the industry’s preeminent guide to the religious travel and hospitality marketplace (a $49 value).

How will the Buyer’s Guide help you?
Discover new ideas and opportunities for enriching your faith tourism and hospitality travel program, while also finding suppliers, products, and services in faith tourism.

What types of faith-based travel services can you learn about in the Buyer's Guide?
Pilgrimages, conferences, events, cruising, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, adventure, safaris, attractions, shrines and holy sites, leisure vacations, insurance, transportation, lodging, restaurants, retailers, destinations, and much more!

What type of travel providers can you find in the Buyer’s Guide?
Tour operators, travel agents, travel wholesalers, destinations and supplier members of WRTA—all of whom are involved in religious travel and hospitality. Our publication is easy to use, giving you quick e-links to web sites and emails, making it convenient for you to contact these distinguished travel providers.

How can you obtain your FREE (digital) copy of the Buyer's Guide?
Just click here http://bit.ly/WRTABuyersGuide2010-2011

How can your organization be featured in future editions of the Buyer's Guide?
Call 888-255-9782/859-219-3529 or email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com.

Whether you are a religious leader who would like to learn more about developing a travel ministry program and how faith based travel can deepen spiritual growth, a travel agent looking for inspiring new travel product to offer your religious market segment or a supplier or destination who caters to the religious travel traveler, WRTA is your connection to growth and development in the religious travel industry.

I invite you to take full advantage of the resource you’ve been given through the Buyers Guide and I encourage you to consider membership in WRTA and/or attending the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo 2010, being held November 13-16 in Montreal, Quebec.

To learn how you can become more involved in WRTA or register for the Expo, please contact us via phone 888-255-9782/859-219-3529 or email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com.

Best wishes to you in 2010 and 2011.
Kevin J. Wright
WRTA President

Expo Buzz Newsletter Aug 5, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:49:00 +0000

WRTA's Expo Buzz

Greg Stielstra is Back to Ignite Your Marketing Fire
The highly-rated speaker from Expo 2009 and author of PyroMarketing, Greg Stielstra, has just signed on for Expo 2010! He will be the keynote speaker during the Sunday luncheon.

Greg is excited and honored to be coming back to speak at Expo and see everyone again. Be sure to watch for our formal press release to the industry regarding this special announcement. In the meantime, want to learn more about Greg Stielstra and his topics of Faith-based Marketing and PyroMarketing – including his books? Visit Greg’s website: http://www.pyromarketing.com/

Buyers: Explore Mauricie & Québec City
on WRTA's Dime
The first registered 25 buyers to contact us will receive the $500 post-Fam tour of the Montréal area at no cost! The tour departs Montréal Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. with an overnight in Québec City. The tour concludes at Montréal’s Trudeau Int’l Airport Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. To register or read more about the post-Fam, visit the Expo Web site: http://www.wrtaexpo.com/

Just Announced!
Travel Ministry Conference Coming to Montréal
Based on the tremendous response of attendees at our new Travel Ministry Conferences, WRTA is elated to announce the new addition of our Travel Ministry Conferences to our Expo in Montréal. Travel Ministry Conferences are smaller, more intimate gatherings designed specifically for pastors, religious/ministry leaders, and other group planners. More details to come soon. Stay tuned!

For $ 5,000, you can become an official co-sponsor of the Montréal Travel Ministry Conference, along side Palestine. This sponsorship includes 5 minutes of promotional time and the opportunity to distribute marking materials at the event. This sponsorship also qualifies you for Silver Level Expo benefits: two Expo registrations, premium 10x10 exhibit space, recognition as an official WRTA sponsor, sponsor signage, sponsor listing on Expo Web site, sponsor icon with listing in Expo Program (part of the NTA Convention Catalog – giving you additional exposure to the 1800 NTA delegates), participation in e-mail blast to WRTA members and Expo delegates and sponsor ribbon with badge.

Due to limited availability, this offer won’t be on the market for long. Call +1.859.226.4402 or email sales@WRTAstaff.com today to reserve your spot!

WRTA Expo
Nov. 13 -16, 2010
Palais des congrès de Montréal
Montréal, Québec, Canada

Faith Tourism Product Seminar to be Featured at THETRADESHOW

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:17:00 +0000

For Immediate Release

THETRADESHOW Spotlights Travel Product Seminars

Alexandria, Va., July 22, 2010 – THETRADESHOW (Orlando, Sept. 12-14) partners are pleased to announce the event’s newest presentation pavilion sponsors and product seminars. These sessions will provide an opportunity for travel agents to further their knowledge about the latest offerings from some of the most popular travel suppliers, as well as showcase the islands of Puerto Rico and St. Lucia.

“Product seminars and sessions carried out in the presentation pavilions provide travel agents a wonderful opportunity to keep up on the latest from some of the industry’s top suppliers, destinations and trends,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association, a partner of THETRADESHOW. “Those who take advantage will have a definite edge when it comes to planning the ideal trip for their clients.”

Presentation Pavilions
• How to Be Successful in Today’s Religious Marketplace as a Travel Provider. Brought to you by the World Religious Travel Association. Presented By Kevin J. Wright. In 20 minutes, travel agents who attend this session will receive the all-important “10 keys to success” in the religious marketplace from the industry’s top faith-based travel educator and four-time published author: Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association. This seminar will provide agents: an opportunity to learn about the new era of today’s faith-based customer; concrete ideas on how to enter or expand their religious travel business; and an enriched vision, mission and strategy for accomplishing their agency goals.

THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) is a 3-day, in-depth networking and educational event. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW unites under one roof travel suppliers and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel decision makers. For more information on THETRADESHOW, please call visit THETRADESHOW.org.

Contact: Kristina Rundquist/Laura Gajewski 703.739.8710
###

Register today for next week's NASHVILLE Travel Ministry Conference

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:32:00 +0000

WRTA's Travel Ministry Conference--Nashville

Pastor and Religious Leaders, please join the World Religious Travel Association on July 8 at the Scarritt Bennett Center for the Nashville's Travel Ministry Conference. Led by WRTA President and Christian Travel Planner author Kevin J. Wright, participate in an interactive workshop and education session on building a travel ministry program.

You’ll learn how faith-based travel deepens spiritual growth and development while offering opportunities for fellowship and fun.

Sign up in advance to receive a complimentary copy of Kevin’s book, The Christian Travel Planner, to help you get started.

Thursday, July 8, 2010
Downtown Nashville COMPLIMENTARY PARKING • GARDEN ADMISSION INCLUDED

Religious Leaders = $0
(If you sign up before July 6 !) (includes a WRTA Membership for 2010)

<< More information here. >>

Additional Speakers
Pastor Roger McCurry (Activities & S.A. Pastor, Severns Valley Baptist Church in Kentucky)
Torre Ossmo (Vice President and General Manager, Faithful Holidays)

Sponsors & Partners
Palestine Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities
Leisure Group Travel

Exhibitors
Anchor Trailways & Tours
Faithful Holidays
Grueninger Tours
Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau
Trailways Transportation Systems

“It was truly a pleasure attending the very well executed WRTA Travel Ministry Conference in Chicago. The presentations were concise and the format creative. The Conference opened up a new world of travel groups for me.”
- Faith Mulvihill, Skydeck Chicago

We hope you’ll join us to explore the many faith-based opportunities that exist for your congregation, including pilgrimages, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, fellowship cruises, retreats, adventure trips, religious attractions, and much more.

Visit us at http://www.travelministryconference.com/. Or, give us a call at 888.255.9782 or send us an email at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com if you have questions or want to know more about WRTA.

June 17th Travel Ministry Conference in Chicago/Attendees Receive FREE copy of The Christian Travel Planner

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:03:00 +0000

Attention: Pastors, Ministry Leaders, and Faith-based Travelers!

Join fellow pastors, religious leaders, travel agents and other faith community members at WRTA’s Travel Ministry Conference where you can discover how to build an effective travel ministry program.

When? Thursday, June 17, 2010
Where? Downtown Chicago (Parking and Museum Admission Included!)

SPEAKERS
Chicago's Rev. Ruth Newell (Chaplain, C-Beyond the Walls Outreach Ministry)
Torre Ossmo (Vice President and General Manager, Faithful Holidays)
Kevin J. Wright (WRTA President and author of The Christian Travel Planner)
Cindi Brodhecker (President, Faith Travel Development & Consulting)Frank Scerri (Owner & Managing Director, Mission Travel Group of Australia)

Why Sign Up in Advance? Pre-registrants receive FREE copy of The Christian Travel Planner.

Best Yet! Cost for religious leaders or their representatives is FREE if you sign up before June 15! Just use promo code: Planner-M10

Day-of Admission = $20 (includes a WRTA Membership for 2010)

<< More information here. >>

Explore the many faith-based opportunities that exist for your business including pilgrimages, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, fellowship cruises, retreats, adventure trips, religious attractions, and much more. Plus, meet with tourism and travel providers specializing in faith-based travel, including The Christian Travel Planner author, Kevin J. Wright. Sign up in advance to receive a complimentary copy.

Visit us at http://www.travelministryconference.com/ to register. Or, give us a call at 888.255.9782 or send us an email at members@WRTAreligioustravel.com if you have questions or want to know more about WRTA.

World Religious Travel Association
2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325 Lexington, KY 40504
888.255.9782 ext. 101 or +1.859.219.3529
headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com
http://www.wrtareligioustravel.com/

Pope in Cyprus for the first time

noreply@blogger.com (kevinjwright) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:41:00 +0000

From Cyprus Tourism Organization
http://www.visitcyprus.com/

Pope in Cyprus for the first time

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cyprus today on a three-day "pilgrimage" trip.

The pontiff, who said he was following in the footsteps of the apostles
Paul and Barnabas, said the island was blessed by a "resilient Christian
heritage" and saluted the head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop
Chrysostomos II, as his "brother".

The Pope was greeted in the southwestern resort of Paphos by Chrysostomos
and by President Demetris Christofias, who said: "Cyprus is in need of your
words of peace, given the difficult situation the island is facing."
Turkish troops have been stationed in the breakaway north of the island since a
1974 invasion in reaction to a Greek Cypriot coup seeking to unite the
island with Greece.

"Allow me to say that Cyprus is in need of your prayers and your
contribution in order to quickly regain its unity and freedom," the president added.

The 83-year-old pontiff made an oblique reference to the division, which
continues after decades of fruitless UN-sponsored talks. "May the love of
your families and the desire to live in harmony with your neighbours" under
God's protection "inspire you patiently to resolve the remaining concerns
that you share with the international community for the future of your
island," he said.

Benedict is the first pope to visit Cyprus, and this is his first trip to
an Orthodox country. His first stop after leaving the Paphos airport was
the nearby ancient church of Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa and St Paul's
Pillar, where he was to take part in an "ecumenical celebration" with
Chrysostomos, who has called on people to welcome him.

He also has an official mission to hand over to Catholic prelates who have
come to Cyprus from the Middle East a working document for a synod on
regional issues to be held in October.

The pope will spend Saturday and Sunday in the capital Nicosia, where he
will celebrate two masses.

For more information please contact our office.

Tasoula Manaridis, Director
Cyprus Tourism Organization
Tel: (212) 683-5280
http://www.visitcyprus.com/