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| Friday, February 02, 2007 |
| World Religious Travel Association: Religious travel industry forms global association |
In an attempt to advise, build and connect the $18-billion worldwide religious travel industry, two widely acclaimed, faith-based travel industry authorities have launched the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA).
The website of WRTA is www.religioustravelassociation.com
Kevin J Wright, president of the Religious Market Consulting Group, and Honnie Korngold, president of the Christian Travel Finder, set up the organisation in response to the growing demand for faith-based vacations and the increasing number of tourism companies entering or expanding their presence within the travel industry.
According to Kevin J Wright, executive director of WRTA, "The new organisation's overall mission is to 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."
The faith-based travel industry is booming worldwide and is one of the fastest-growing travel segments, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).
The Travel Industry Association of America's findings, released in November 2006, says: "One-quarter of travellers said they were currently interested in taking a spiritual vacation (like religious retreat, pilgrimage), and that the appeal of a spiritual vacation spans the ages, with approximately one-third of each age group (18-34 years, 35-54 years, and 55+) expressing current interest in taking such a vacation."
In October 2006, the International Conference on Religious Tourism (ICORET), held in Cyprus, estimated the size of the faith-based travel industry at $18 billion.
The London-based World Travel Market has identified faith-based travel as one of the top critical issues and trends in travel and tourism in the 21st century.
The World Religious Travel Association will initially focus on the North American religious market and consumer, and then expand throughout the world as emerging markets mature and consumer demand increases.
The three major goals of the WRTA are: Advise and assist the worldwide travel industry in marketing, sell and develop product for the North American religious market and consumer; build faith-based vacation and travel ministry opportunities for North American religious consumers; and connect the worldwide travel industry and the North American religious consumer (via various channels, venues and networking opportunities).
All seven segments of the $18-billion global religious tourism industry are represented in the association. They are: (1) Tour operators, cruise lines, and travel wholesalers (2) travel suppliers and vendors (3) travel agencies and consortiums (4) religious suppliers and vendors (5) churches and religious / non-profit organisations (6) individuals and clergy (7) media.
The new association will provide its members with market services and opportunities such as leadership, networking, education, media (publicity), research, job market, advertising, consulting, travel ministry programmes, and faith-based vacations.
Besides, the WRTA will promote every aspect of religious travel including escorted touring, cruising, missionary travel, adventure trips, FIT/independent travel, attractions, retreats, conferences, and conventions/meetings. Memberships for the association include both trade and consumer, and feature a variety of options.Labels: religion |
posted by a correspondent @ 10:40 AM   |
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| Thursday, January 04, 2007 |
| Ardh Kumbh in Allahabad |
70 million expected to take holy dip in the Ganges
All roads lead to Allahabad as the Ardh Kumbh is here. The largest confluence of devotees will see close to 70 million people coming together over the next six weeks for a dip in the holy Ganges. The mission is to wash away their sins.
The event happening in the next six week period in Allahabad is the Ardh Kumbh Mela. This festival falls midway between the Maha Kumbh Mela celebrated once in every 12 years.
Hindus believe that taking a holy dip in the Ganges during the festivals cleanses devotees of sin and accelerate their path toward nirvana.
Orgnaisers have said that millions of devotees from around the country and abroad are expected to visit Allahabad through the 42-day event. Of these 42 days, seven of them carry special privileges and crowds are expected to be more on these days. The opening day on January 3 is expected to draw about five million people. However the biggest crowds of around 25 million people will be seen on Mauni Amavasya day, which falls on January 19.
The government machinery is hands full with the work on making arrangements and ensuring logistics., he said. Managing people and amenities at the site of the holy confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati will be the biggest task the government wuld be undertaking at the start of the new year.
Records reveal that the Maha Kumbh Mela of 1989 had attracted 15 million devotees. The confluence made its entry into the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest gathering of human beings with a single mission. The numbers were bettered by the festival in 2001 which drew around 70 million pilgrims.
According to old experts and old timers, Allahabad holds the distinction of being right at the centre of the earth and rays of the sun fall directly on this spot and generate unique minerals in the water at the holy sangam.Labels: culture, religion |
| posted by a correspondent @ 1:58 AM |
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