Globus releases new faith-based itineraries

LITTLETON, Colo. – To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Globus’ religious travel division, the tour operator debuted two new faith-based itineraries for 2014. The company now offers seven international religious tours designed for the first-time international traveler.

The new Legacy of Pope John Paul II tour in Poland features guided tours of the former Pope’s hometown, as well as religious sites in Poland. The eight-day tour explores Warsaw, Auschwitz, Krakow and Czestochowa’s Black Madonna.

The budget-brand Cosmos released four tours, included the new 12-day Shrines of France and Lourdes. Groups will visit the iconic churches of Paris, Lisieux and Poitiers, as wells as Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine where St. Bernadette is said to have beheld the Virgin Mary in 1858.

Globus estimates that 16.3 million Americans participate in international faith-based travel, up five percent from the past five years. The company’s market research also indicated that 35 percent of all outbound travelers are interested in taking a religious vacation.

Half of religious travelers in the study viewed a faith-based vacation as something they “need” to do to enhance their faith, while 51 percent fell more comfortable spending money on a religious vacation than any other holiday. Of those, Globus reported that 70 percent preferred to go on a group tour.

For more information, visit www.globusfaith.com.