The inaugural World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference will draw participants from 28 countries to gather from Oct. 29-Nov.1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Centre in Orlando. 

Destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, attractions, hotel properties, car rental companies and a host of other providers and planners from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Holy Land will be represented at this assembly of Who’s Who in the $18 billion worldwide faith tourism industry.

 “Faith tourism has evolved to the point where a gathering of this magnitude is necessary for the industry to respond to the needs of today’s faith-based consumers,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), host of the event.

“Our global partners recognize that – just as in music, books and film – contemporary religious consumers represent tremendous market potential for travel organizations willing to provide meaningful products and services that meet their specific needs.”

Alongside obvious religious travel suppliers such as the Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises and the tourism ministries of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan and Israel, are those with a less overt connection, which show the diversity of the faith tourism industry.

These include:

• EcoAndes Travel, Ecuador (Adventure tours in South America)
• Nissi Holidays, Uganda; Cordial Tours and Travel Services, Tanzania (Africa safari operators)
• Armenian Tourism Development Agency
• Korea Tourism Organization
• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
• Condor Verde Travel (Mexico and Venezuela)

 The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference.
The WRTA Expo will give travel suppliers, destinations and wholesalers the chance to come face-to-face with over 400 agents and church travel planners to develop partnerships, introduce new products and services, generate qualified leads and build long-term relationships.
For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com.