on religious travel � kevin j. wright

IN THE FALL OF 2008 in Orlando,an historic event took place in the traveland tourism industry. For the first timein history, faith tourism professionalsand planners from around the globegathered together under one roof tomeet and network with one another.Today this assembly of faith

tourism organizations and individuals,the World Religious Travel Expo,constitutes the only global market-place for religious travel andhospitality. It is here where allsegments of the $18-billionindustry come face-to-face tobuy, sell, develop products,find new suppliers, developnew partnerships and stay atthe forefront of faith tourism.This year’s Expo will be held

from Nov. 14-16 in Reno, Nev.

What can youexperience at the Expo?By attending or exhibiting

at the World Religious TravelExpo, you can network with hundredsof travel industry professionals frommore than 30 countries. Destinations,tour operators, cruise lines, attractions,hotel properties, travel suppliers anda host of other providers and plannersfrom Africa, the Americas, Asia, Aus-tralia, the Caribbean, Europe andthe Holy Land will be represented. Inaddition, the Educational Conferencefeatures the most comprehensive profes-sional development program on faithtourism. As such, the Expo is the idealplace to enter or expand your presencein faith travel, build your brand, buyand sell products and services, discovernew trends, enrich your religious travel

portfolio and develop new relation-ships/partnerships in the industry.

Who will be at the Expo?TheWorld Religious Travel Expo

2009 is expected to welcome more than600 tourism organizations and travelprofessionals from around the globe. Alldelegates are either involved in religioustravel and hospitality or looking to ex-pand their presence and portfolios. At-

tendees and exhibitors include thebuyers, sellers and re-sellers in faithtourism. Buyers include travel agents,planners, product managers and othersin a “purchasing” capacity, while sellersand re-sellers include professionals andentities such as travel agents, tour opera-tors, destination management organiza-tions (i.e. tourist offices and CVBs),lodging facilities, transportation compa-nies, cruise lines, suppliers, media, reli-gious sites and others in a similar“selling” capacity.

Why attend the Expo?The World Religious Travel Expo

offers a unique opportunity to

strengthen your presence in the rapidlygrowing religious travel and hospitalityindustry – whether you are a travelprofessional or planner. In short, hereare the Top 10 Reasons to attend:

• Buy and sell on the world’s premierstage of religious travel and hospitality.• Find new products and services infaith tourism.• Learn how to effectively build a thriv-

ing faith-based travel program,business or division.• Meet the “Who’s Who” in thereligious travel industry.• Discover new faith-basedtravel products and services foryour portfolio.• Learn how to promote yourorganization/trips effectively toyour clients or members.• Gain in-depth and cutting-edge knowledge on religioustravel and hospitality.• Develop relationships andpartnerships with key faith

tourism leaders.• Participate in the industry’s mostcomprehensive educational program onfaith tourism.• Become involved in the most impor-tant gathering of the religious travel andhospitality industry.New highlights for the 2nd annual

Expo include co-locating with theNational Tour Association AnnualConvention, offering delegates un-precedented opportunities for businessgrowth and networking.

Contact:World Religious TravelAssociation, 888-255-9782. See a videoand register at the Expo’s official web-site, wrtaexpo.com.

World Religious Travel Expo 2009

LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2009 27

Faith tourism leaders meet in Reno this November.

on religious travel �

BAPTISM SITE DRAWS CHRISTIANS TO JORDAN

Bethany beyond the Jordan, the tra-ditional biblical location near the banksof the Jordan River where Jesus was bap-tized, has been a hub of activity in 2009.For more than a decade, experts have un-earthed ruins of early churches and theancient settlement associated with Johnthe Baptist, and now many Christian de-nominations have begun building newchurches nearby to facilitate modern pil-grims in what has been called the birth-place of Christianity.

In March, Baptist World Alliance officials, former British Prime MinisterTony Blair and Prince Ghazi Bin Mo-hammed of Jordan joined officials fromaround the world to dedicate the new

Baptism Center. In May, Pope Bene-dict XVI blessed the cornerstones oftwo new Catholic churches beingbuilt. The Baptism Center andCatholic churches join the fully op-erational Greek Orthodox Churchand others under construction.

Several hundred thousand visitorscame to the baptism site in 2008. In2009, more Americans have visitedthe site than any other nationality.Once the new facilities are completed,officials are prepared to receive morethan a million visitors a year. (877-733-5673, visitjordan.com)

TURIN, ITALYThe Shroud of Turin will be on

display for public viewing from April 10 to May 23,2010 at the Cathedralof St. John the Baptist.The shroud, according to tradition, was Christ’s burial cloth and bears afull-length photonegativeimage of a crucified man,believed by many Chris-tians to be Jesus Christ.Normally the churchkeeps the shroud behindbulletproof glass in a spe-cial chapel. A hermeticallysealed casket made ofspace-age alloy preservesand conceals the shroud.The Pope must approveany removal for study orpublic display. Travelershave not had the chanceto see the shroud since2000. The shroud is ex-pected to draw more thantwo million travelers toItaly’s Piemonte region.(sindone.org)

NEW JERUSALEM ATTRACTIONThe Time Elevator in Jerusalem is a

new interactive experience that uses mo-tion-based seating, panoramic screensand special effects in conjunction with afilm. The film covers the 3,000-year his-tory of Jerusalem, highlighting impor-tant events such as the Roman conquest,the birth of Christianity and the estab-lishment of Israel. Seats move in six different directions and surround-soundheadsets allow the show to be heard in English and seven other languages.(time-elevator-jerusalem.co.il).

MOSAICS MUSEUMThe Museum of the Good Samari-

tan, one of the world’s largest mosaicsmuseums, just opened in the JudeanDesert near Jerusalem. Located on themain highway between Jerusalem andJericho, the museum is near the site ofthe inn mentioned in the New Testa-ment’s parable of the Good Samaritan.

28 August 2009 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Churches are being built at Bethany

beyond the Jordan, a new destination

for Christian tour groups.

Religious News

It is identified with the biblical town of Ma’ale Adumim and displays mosaicsand artifacts discovered throughout Israel. The museum features an open-airdisplay of mosaics and archaeologicalfindings from both Jewish and Samari-tan synagogues and Christian churches,including cisterns and remnants fromthe reconstructed Good SamaritanByzantine Church. (goisrael.com) 

CALIFORNIA ABBEYThe Cistercian monks at the Abbey

of New Clairvaux in Vina have under-taken the Sacred Stones Project, the re-construction of an 800-year-old chapterhouse that was originally built in Ovila,Spain. The sacred stones that had onceformed the Sacramento Valley monasterypassed hands several times, and at onepoint, belonged to William RandolphHearst before he sold them to the city

of San Francisco.The stones wereused for variouspurposes through-out the city, butwere awarded tothe Abbey of NewClairvaux after themonks spent yearspetitioning forthem. Numerouscraftsmen, most ofthem from Europe,have worked tometiculously re-store each aspect of the chapterhouse, consideredthe most impor-tant room in themonastery. Threeof the Gothic por-tals have been com-pleted. Masons willerect eight columns

that will support the massive arches of the chapter house’s vaulted ceiling.(530-839-2434, newclairvaux.org, sacredstones.org)

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUMThe National Museum of American

Jewish History is constructing a five-story building on Independence Mall inPhiladelphia. Set to open in fall 2010, itwill stand directly across from the Lib-erty Bell, a block south of the NationalConstitution Center and one blocknorth of Independence Hall.

The core exhibition will trace thelives of American Jews from 1654 to thepresent, exploring how Jews created anew home in a free land and how Amer-ica shaped their lives. Exhibits will drawon the museum’s permanent collection,which includes ritual objects and em-broidered textiles carried to America by19th century Jewish immigrants, plusartwork, photographs and rare books.The new building will allow for ex-panded programming and activities thatare not possible in the current facility.Major spaces will include a Center forJewish Education that will serve school-children and young adults of everybackground, the 200-seat Dell FamilyTheater and an event space overlookingIndependence Mall. (215-923-3811,nmajh.org)

THE STORY OF JOSEPH Sight & Sound Theatres presents a

new production of Joseph from March6-Oct. 30, 2010 at the MillenniumTheatre in Strasburg, Pa. The classicBible story about Joseph’s forgivenessand integrity will feature a cast of 45professional adult and children actors,dozens of live animals gracing theaisles, several dream sequences includ-ing Joseph in his colorful coat “flying”over the audience, larger-than-life stag-

on religious travel �

30 August 2009 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Religious News Continued

* Book a 2010 Globus Oberammergau vacation to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between July 8 and October 13, 2009 for travel anytime in 2010. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club member benefi t and applies to new 2010 Globus Oberammergau bookings only and will not be applied to existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

** All prices quoted are per person, land only, double occupancy. Air-inclusive pricing is available. Additional restrictions may apply.

ing that includes a spectacular Egyptianpalace scene spanning 300 feet andwrapping around three sides of the audi-ence, plus 20 original songs. Inspired byJoseph’s colorful coat, the show willweave a brilliant color scheme into themusic, costumes, lights and special ef-fects. Tickets for groups of 15 and moreare $54.15 for adults, $16 for children,$28 for teens. Psalms of David returns to Living Waters Theatre April 24-Sept. 25, 2010 (tickets $16-$29.45).This year’s show at the Millennium

Theatre, the epic musical In the Begin-ning, is the biblical account of creationand runs through Oct. 17, 2009, fol-lowed by Voices of Christmas (Oct. 3-Jan.2 at Living Waters Theatre) and Miracleof Christmas (Nov. 7-Jan. 2). Hotel, mealand multi-show packages are available, as are behind-the-scenes tours.

SOUTH AFRICAGroups to Africa, a South Africa tour

operator, offers Christian travelers tailor-made trips that combine faith, fellowshipand fun. Activities might include a morn-ing of caring for an AIDS-affected child atan orphanage, tea or a cookout with alocal family, or attending a Sunday serviceat a rural congregation or mega-church.Groups can spend devotion time in theAfrican bush and go on safari in suchgame sanctuaries as Kruger National Park.Other excursions might involve Sowetoand the Apartheid Museum in Johannes-burg and Nelson Mandela’s prison cell.(groupstoafrica.com)

NORTHWEST INDIANAThe Shrine of Christ’s Passion has

become an attraction of spiritual signifi-cance drawing people of all religiousfaiths from around the country. An in-teractive half-mile winding pathway of40 life-size bronze statues, the Shrineprovides an intimate environment forspiritual renewal. The 15-acre site, whichhas been under development for eightyears, was designed to reflect the periodwhen Jesus was alive. Pilgrims experiencethe Passion of Christ beginning withLast Supper and Garden of Gethsemanescenes and ending with the Ascension.Original background music sets the

mood along the trail, and each settinghas a listening station where visitors heara description of the scene and shortmeditation. The voice of the Shrine isChicago broadcast journalist Bill Kurtis.The Shrine of Christ’s Passion is

funded by a not-for-profit foundation,and all proceeds from the gift shop anddonations are used to maintain thePrayer Trail. Since opening in May of2088, the Shrine, located 35 milessoutheast of Chicago, has attracted morethan 100,000 visitors. (219-365-6010,shrineofchristspassion.org)

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on religious travel �

Religious News Continued