Orlando to host World Religious Travel Expo in October 2008

21 October 2007

The World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference, claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, will be held from October 29 to November
1, 2008, in Orlando, the United States.

The event, being hosted by the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), is expected to attract hundreds of travel wholesalers, suppliers, tourist boards, agencies, and group-travel organizers within the so-called faith tourism industry that is worth US $18 billion.

According to Kevin J Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association, though religious tourism is one of history’s oldest travel segments, no large-scale trade convention has ever been held for this huge traveler market.

All market segments, Kevin J Wright added, would be represented at the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference, including pilgrimage, cruising, missions, leisure vacations, attractions, conferences, retreats, Christian camps, and volunteer vacations.

The World Religious Travel Association expo will also feature an international tradeshow as well as an educational conference. The combined event, the organizers expect, “will provide travel suppliers, destinations, wholesalers, agencies, and church travel planners with a world-class forum to develop long-term profitable relationships with its clients as well as generate qualified leads.”

The educational conference is aimed at informing participants of the new niche markets emerging in faith tourism through a series of dynamic presentations, panel discussions, and interactive break-out sessions, according to WRTA officials.

In the opinion of Robert F Brennan, founder of Brennan Vacations, both faith tourism and group travel have evolved over the last several decades with obvious synergy.

Brennan explained that, since 1978, the goal of Brennan Vacations has been to provide fresh, authentic journeys of discovery by treating the customers as individuals, while providing the benefits of group travel.

The World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference is being sponsored by Globus Family of brands, Brennan Vacations, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises, Switzerland Tourism, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Jordan Tourism Board of North America, Gaylord Hotels, Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, WordSpring Discovery Center, Christian Travel Finder, World Mission Tours, and Trafalgar Tours.

More information on the event can be had from the website www.religioustravelexpo.com

Information on becoming a member of the World Religious Travel Association is available on the website www.religioustravelassociation.com