The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) announced that the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will conduct educational workshops at this fall’s World Religious Travel Expo. The timing is ideal, according to WRTA, as faith-based cruising has become an influential segment of the growing $18 billion religious travel industry, with hundreds of faith-based groups embarking each year on cruises and full-ship charters carrying tens of thousands of travelers.

“As 75% of faith-based cruisers are first-timers, the religious market provides a tremendous new market opportunity,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “With CLIA’s participation in the Expo, combined with the presence of cruise lines such as WRTA Charter Members Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line, travel agencies will discover first-hand how cruising can play a key role in appealing to and capitalizing on the robust, lucrative faith vacation segment.”

The World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008 will be held Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. More than 400 participants are expected at this first-ever international convention for faith-tourism, hosted by the World Religious Travel Association.