WRTA Announces Theme of Fall Expo
“Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever”
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2009) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced “Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever” as its official theme for this fall’s World Religious Travel Expo. The newly chosen motto will serve as the guiding principle and overall purpose of the three-day event.
“Our theme serves as an invitation to tap into the flourishing religious travel and hospitality industry,” said WRTA president, Kevin J. Wright. “We all know this is a very trying time for many companies. However, as faith tourism provides new market and revenue possibilities, the World Religious Travel Expo provides organizations with a renewed opportunity to experience their best year yet.”
Faith-based travel and hospitality has become an important new market segment for many tour operators, travel agents, destinations and suppliers in the industry. In the past year alone, the religious market has taken on even greater significance, due to its recession-proof and groups-dominated attributes. An estimated 75% of faith-based travelers prefer to travel in group settings while 80% would like to repeat their religious travel experience. Challenging times only serve to bring people of faith together in greater numbers for travel or convention purposes; providing a much needed “stimulus” to the industry.
WRTA recently opened registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Annual Convention, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking, and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and www.WRTAexpo.com respectively.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The top 10 tips for international travel (provided by Passport Health)
Passport Health http://www.passporthealthusa.com
DENVER -- Michelle Reesman, RN, executive director of Passport Health Colorado, says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. "People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans," Reesman advises.
1. Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a travel medicine specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation. They can answer your questions and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. It's important to get your immunizations early, as some of the vaccines take time to effectively protect you.
2. Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20 percent to 30 percent DEET, the insect repellant permethrin and bed nets.
3. Never go barefoot, even on the beach.
4. Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.
5. Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!
6. Pre-fill your prescriptions, they may not be available at your destination. Take extra in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.
7. Don't swim in rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.
8. Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions. Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler's diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a travel health specialist.
9. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles or wear a helmet and don't drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt and only travel during daylight hours.
10. Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren't accepted when you travel internationally.
Source: Passport Health Colorado
DENVER -- Michelle Reesman, RN, executive director of Passport Health Colorado, says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. "People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans," Reesman advises.
1. Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a travel medicine specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation. They can answer your questions and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. It's important to get your immunizations early, as some of the vaccines take time to effectively protect you.
2. Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20 percent to 30 percent DEET, the insect repellant permethrin and bed nets.
3. Never go barefoot, even on the beach.
4. Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.
5. Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!
6. Pre-fill your prescriptions, they may not be available at your destination. Take extra in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.
7. Don't swim in rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.
8. Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions. Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler's diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a travel health specialist.
9. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles or wear a helmet and don't drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt and only travel during daylight hours.
10. Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren't accepted when you travel internationally.
Source: Passport Health Colorado
Monday, June 8, 2009
Marketing in times of financial crisis: Tourism recovery strategies for turbulent times
BY ERAN KETTER | JUN 03, 2009
Read the full story at http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/travel-industry-info/06-03-2009/marketing-in-times-of-financial-crisis-tourism-recovery-strategies-for-turbulent-times
A common believe among tourism professionals is that the financial crisis has damaged the entire tourism industry evenly. In contrast, a closer inspection of tourism news and statistics from the last 6 months indicates that this is not always the case. Hence, while some tourism segments were severely damaged, others are demonstrating unique stability and firmness. Taken together with past crisis situations, these cases can be induced into four tourism recovery strategies that can assist tourism professionals in developing and marketing better tourism products for these turbulent times.
Religious Tourism
A recent report from Rome, Italy, indicates that tourism to the Vatican City stayed the same in spite of the crisis. That, demonstrating the devotion of the religious target audience. Similarly, Israel focused on religious tourism to keep attracting visitors during the on-going conflict in the early 2000’s. Using the slogan: “Don’t let your soul wait any longer, come visit Israel”, the country successfully addressed a well-segmented target audience that is less vulnerable to crises situations.
Read the full story at http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/travel-industry-info/06-03-2009/marketing-in-times-of-financial-crisis-tourism-recovery-strategies-for-turbulent-times
A common believe among tourism professionals is that the financial crisis has damaged the entire tourism industry evenly. In contrast, a closer inspection of tourism news and statistics from the last 6 months indicates that this is not always the case. Hence, while some tourism segments were severely damaged, others are demonstrating unique stability and firmness. Taken together with past crisis situations, these cases can be induced into four tourism recovery strategies that can assist tourism professionals in developing and marketing better tourism products for these turbulent times.
Religious Tourism
A recent report from Rome, Italy, indicates that tourism to the Vatican City stayed the same in spite of the crisis. That, demonstrating the devotion of the religious target audience. Similarly, Israel focused on religious tourism to keep attracting visitors during the on-going conflict in the early 2000’s. Using the slogan: “Don’t let your soul wait any longer, come visit Israel”, the country successfully addressed a well-segmented target audience that is less vulnerable to crises situations.
Millions opt for religious tourism
Millions opt for religious tourism
6/6/2009
While there are no official statistics to confirm it, recent estimations have calculated that religious tourism in Portugal attracts several million tourists every year, generating around €700 million in revenue and representing 10 percent of the overall tourism in Portugal.
The lack of official figures is explained by the fact that ‘religious tourism’ (visits to places of religious interest) is not categorized as such, but is in fact classified as ‘cultural tourism’.
This has been criticized by researchers and tour operators who believe Portugal’s current Strategic Tourism Plan should be reformed to include an 11th tourism category, Religious Tourism.
Entities such as the Portuguese Tourist Board and the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) have also complained about the lack of statistics relating purely to this sector in Portugal. Kevin Wright, head of the WRTA, said “there is no specific data relating to Portugal in this sector with the exception of those relating solely to visitors to the Fatima Sanctuary”.
On a global scale, every year between 300 and 330 million people embark on a religion-based trip, which overall generates revenue of between 15 and 18 billion euros.
Portugal is believed to generate around two percent of that traffic. Of the seven million people who visit Portugal for religious purposes, around five million of those head for Fátima.
Internationally, Lourdes, in France, is one of the main religious destinations, with six million visitors every year. However the record goes to Kumbha Mela (India), whose celebrations take place every 12 years and saw 75 million people gather in 2001
To read the full article visit http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/google.pl?id=1013-12
6/6/2009
While there are no official statistics to confirm it, recent estimations have calculated that religious tourism in Portugal attracts several million tourists every year, generating around €700 million in revenue and representing 10 percent of the overall tourism in Portugal.
The lack of official figures is explained by the fact that ‘religious tourism’ (visits to places of religious interest) is not categorized as such, but is in fact classified as ‘cultural tourism’.
This has been criticized by researchers and tour operators who believe Portugal’s current Strategic Tourism Plan should be reformed to include an 11th tourism category, Religious Tourism.
Entities such as the Portuguese Tourist Board and the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) have also complained about the lack of statistics relating purely to this sector in Portugal. Kevin Wright, head of the WRTA, said “there is no specific data relating to Portugal in this sector with the exception of those relating solely to visitors to the Fatima Sanctuary”.
On a global scale, every year between 300 and 330 million people embark on a religion-based trip, which overall generates revenue of between 15 and 18 billion euros.
Portugal is believed to generate around two percent of that traffic. Of the seven million people who visit Portugal for religious purposes, around five million of those head for Fátima.
Internationally, Lourdes, in France, is one of the main religious destinations, with six million visitors every year. However the record goes to Kumbha Mela (India), whose celebrations take place every 12 years and saw 75 million people gather in 2001
To read the full article visit http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/google.pl?id=1013-12
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
New World Religious Travel Expo video released
WRTA just released its inspriational World Relgious Travel Expo video on YOU TUBE. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c25vbpwqQ1o
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Jordan hopes pilgrims will follow papal lead
Jordan hopes pilgrims will follow papal lead
The National - Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
“In the coming months we are going to concentrate on the religious tourism in order to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who can also benefit from ...
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090429/FOREIGN/704289910/1011/ART
The National - Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
“In the coming months we are going to concentrate on the religious tourism in order to attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who can also benefit from ...
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090429/FOREIGN/704289910/1011/ART
Monday, April 13, 2009
Industry Leaders to Address Alternative Business Streams at Arabian Travel Market
Industry Leaders to Address Alternative Business Streams at Arabian Travel Market
While deteriorating global economic conditions look certain to dent the Middle East’s immediate inbound tourism growth, the burgeoning religious tourism sector – valued at $18billion per year - can play a decisive role in driving the region’s short-term industry revenues, says Kevin J Wright – President, World Religious Travel Association (WRTA).
The Middle East is already the world’s largest driver of religious travel, tourism and hospitality, with the sector fuelling the region’s current annual tourism growth of 11 percent per annum.
However, Wright insists specialist travel providers need to develop the best possible travel experiences to leverage income from the three billion people around the world who trace their religious roots and faiths to the Middle East.
“Religious tourism is recognised as one of the most resilient markets in the travel industry,” said Wright, who will conduct a seminar entitled ‘The New Era of Religious Tourism’ at May’s Arabian Travel Market - the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event.
“Pilgrimages are not the sole driver of the religious market anymore and people of faith are increasingly seeking greater quality travel experiences across the full spectrum of sub-sectors which drive the industry,” he said.
“With more than 300 million global travellers annually, the faith-based travel and hospitality market provides destination management organisations, wholesalers, suppliers and travel agents unprecedented opportunities for new business avenues and clientele,” added Wright.
Saudi Arabia is the market’s primary driver, with the Islamic Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages seeing the Kingdom receive over six million worshipers annually.
“In Saudi Arabia alone the religious tourism industry generates an estimated US$7billion annually and with the market expecting 20 percent growth in the coming years, tour operators, hotels and airlines are already tailoring products to tap into the religious market,” said Wright.
However, he also identified Jordan and Palestine as growth markets: “Ninety-five percent of tourism in Palestine is religion-based, while Jordan is targeting tourism revenues of up to US$2.4billion, per year, by 2010 – over 60 percent higher than income generated in 2007.”
Iraq is also emerging as a serious player in the sector. Areas of religious significance, such as Najaf - home of the sacred shrine of the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) – already welcomes eight million pilgrims a year, but a new airport will increase inbound capacity to over 20 million.
“Investment must not only be married to existing opportunities, it needs to be focused on surrounding infrastructures to ensure the increased visitors experience quality services at affordable prices,” said Wright.
Citing Abu Dhabi as an example of how feeder destinations can benefit from mass pilgrimages to Saudi, Iraq and other holy sites, Wright added: “Abu Dhabi International Airport handled nearly 15,000 Hajjes last year, which increased its passenger traffic rates to Saudi Arabia by 34.5 percent – the potential for everyone in the region to benefit is astounding.”
Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions - organiser of Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from 5-8th May, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre - said the need to examine robust tourism revenue streams would be critical in ensuring the industry weathers the current economic downturn.
“Our industry is changing and tour operators and travel companies need to examine alternative business avenues to increase profits during these challenging times. The religious tourism market is one such possibility and remains extremely relevant to Middle East based operations. Through these informed discussion sessions, exhibitors and visitors alike can better understand the business potential available to them.”
Wright is the latest speaker to be announced for Arabian Travel Market 2009’s expanded seminar programme, which will cover a wide-range of key trends and issues during the 16 sessions planned for the four day event.
Boasting a strong line-up of industry leaders, the seminars will examine trends such as the global cruise industry, its market potential and development of the cruise sector in Gulf region; recruitment and retention best practice in the hospitality sector; the outlook for the Gulf meetings industry and the future of air travel in the Middle East.
The online portal for Arabian Travel Market can be found at www.arabiantravelmarket.com. Signing up early will allow visitors to take advantage of extensive e-networking tools that will allow them to link up with the most relevant industry players to their business.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.
Visitor registration for Arabian Travel Market 2009 can be done through the show’s dedicated website on www.arabiantravelmarket.com/registertoday
While deteriorating global economic conditions look certain to dent the Middle East’s immediate inbound tourism growth, the burgeoning religious tourism sector – valued at $18billion per year - can play a decisive role in driving the region’s short-term industry revenues, says Kevin J Wright – President, World Religious Travel Association (WRTA).
The Middle East is already the world’s largest driver of religious travel, tourism and hospitality, with the sector fuelling the region’s current annual tourism growth of 11 percent per annum.
However, Wright insists specialist travel providers need to develop the best possible travel experiences to leverage income from the three billion people around the world who trace their religious roots and faiths to the Middle East.
“Religious tourism is recognised as one of the most resilient markets in the travel industry,” said Wright, who will conduct a seminar entitled ‘The New Era of Religious Tourism’ at May’s Arabian Travel Market - the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event.
“Pilgrimages are not the sole driver of the religious market anymore and people of faith are increasingly seeking greater quality travel experiences across the full spectrum of sub-sectors which drive the industry,” he said.
“With more than 300 million global travellers annually, the faith-based travel and hospitality market provides destination management organisations, wholesalers, suppliers and travel agents unprecedented opportunities for new business avenues and clientele,” added Wright.
Saudi Arabia is the market’s primary driver, with the Islamic Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages seeing the Kingdom receive over six million worshipers annually.
“In Saudi Arabia alone the religious tourism industry generates an estimated US$7billion annually and with the market expecting 20 percent growth in the coming years, tour operators, hotels and airlines are already tailoring products to tap into the religious market,” said Wright.
However, he also identified Jordan and Palestine as growth markets: “Ninety-five percent of tourism in Palestine is religion-based, while Jordan is targeting tourism revenues of up to US$2.4billion, per year, by 2010 – over 60 percent higher than income generated in 2007.”
Iraq is also emerging as a serious player in the sector. Areas of religious significance, such as Najaf - home of the sacred shrine of the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) – already welcomes eight million pilgrims a year, but a new airport will increase inbound capacity to over 20 million.
“Investment must not only be married to existing opportunities, it needs to be focused on surrounding infrastructures to ensure the increased visitors experience quality services at affordable prices,” said Wright.
Citing Abu Dhabi as an example of how feeder destinations can benefit from mass pilgrimages to Saudi, Iraq and other holy sites, Wright added: “Abu Dhabi International Airport handled nearly 15,000 Hajjes last year, which increased its passenger traffic rates to Saudi Arabia by 34.5 percent – the potential for everyone in the region to benefit is astounding.”
Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions - organiser of Arabian Travel Market, which takes place from 5-8th May, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre - said the need to examine robust tourism revenue streams would be critical in ensuring the industry weathers the current economic downturn.
“Our industry is changing and tour operators and travel companies need to examine alternative business avenues to increase profits during these challenging times. The religious tourism market is one such possibility and remains extremely relevant to Middle East based operations. Through these informed discussion sessions, exhibitors and visitors alike can better understand the business potential available to them.”
Wright is the latest speaker to be announced for Arabian Travel Market 2009’s expanded seminar programme, which will cover a wide-range of key trends and issues during the 16 sessions planned for the four day event.
Boasting a strong line-up of industry leaders, the seminars will examine trends such as the global cruise industry, its market potential and development of the cruise sector in Gulf region; recruitment and retention best practice in the hospitality sector; the outlook for the Gulf meetings industry and the future of air travel in the Middle East.
The online portal for Arabian Travel Market can be found at www.arabiantravelmarket.com. Signing up early will allow visitors to take advantage of extensive e-networking tools that will allow them to link up with the most relevant industry players to their business.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.
Visitor registration for Arabian Travel Market 2009 can be done through the show’s dedicated website on www.arabiantravelmarket.com/registertoday
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