One sector of the travel industry that has remained strong despite the global recession is religious tourism, with a number of faith-based events drawing international crowds this year, such as the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany.
The landmark event takes place every 10 years in the town of Oberammergau, near Munich, and has been performed regularly since 1634 to honour a pact with God made by the villagers for sparing them from the Black Death that was laying waste to Europe at the time.
Due to its rarity and community spirit, the event – which is performed exclusively by local residents in the time-honoured tradition – is a popular attraction for world travellers, with 500,000 expected to head to Germany to attend this year’s performances, which begin this month and lasting through to September.
Speaking at last year’s World Religious Travel Expo, the event’s chairman Kevin Wright told Travel Weekly: “2010 is a year that looks to be a very good year in religious tourism.
“Overall the market has remained relatively steady compared to the rest of the leisure travel industry.
“Just like every nook and cranny of the tourism industry, everybody took a little bit of a hit. But in that context, religious tourism is holding steady.”
Other religious events drawing visitors this year include the Feast of St James, taking place in Spain on Sunday 25 July, as well as the climax of the Catholic Church’s ‘Year for Priests’, announced by Pope Benedict XVI as running from 19 June 2009 to 11 June 2010.
To evaluate the success of religious tourism in 2010 and look to the future of the growing travel sector, this year’s WRTA Expo will take place from 13 to 17 November in Montreal, Canada.
