International Herald Tribune: In its many forms, spiritual tourism is the "oldest and now one of the fastest- growing segments in the travel industry," said Dallen Timothy, an associate professor at Arizona State University and a co-editor of "Tourism, Religion & Spiritual Journeys" (Routledge, 2006).
Timothy said the niche could also be hard to quantify, partly because of its changing definition. It now embraces yoga and other retreats, metaphysical quests, astrology and adventure tours, visits to places like Stonehenge in England and weekends at New Age spas and wellness centers.
The rising popularity of spiritual tourism can be traced to several factors, including a trend toward vacations that help travelers achieve a higher sense of purpose through volunteering, education, culture and art. In addition, travel experts cite a growing middle class of Asians and Middle Easterners whose religions prescribe traveling to places they hold holy.
Raymond Bickson, managing director of Taj Hotels & Resorts, based in Mumbai, said that "as baby boomers age and gray, they have more time and more disposable income to look within." Three years ago, noticing that many of the guests at his 57 hotels in India were seeking spiritual experiences, he added activities like meditation sessions and chanting ceremonies. Revenue from spa programs has tripled since then, he said.
In a survey released in November, the Travel Industry Association found that 25 percent of respondents in a representative sample of 1,500 adults said they were interested in spiritual vacations. The appeal of such journeys was spread equally among three age groups, 18 to 34, 35 to 54, and 55 and over.
Easing spiritual journeys with creature comforts [International Herald Tribune]
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