Dyer : We are starting to book trips for travelers interested in the upcoming 2020 Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany , and we are already seeing high demand for tours to Lourdes , France , for the 160th Anniversary of the Apparitions next year . We are offering three new vacations that spotlight Lourdes : the 11- day Marian Shrines of Europe , the 6-day Pilgrimage to Lourdes and the 20-day Spiritual Highlights of Iberia , Lourdes and Italy . The latter is an extremely inclusive tour that features some of Europe ’ s most popular faithbased sites including Fatima , Portugal ; Santiago de Compostela , Spain ; Lourdes , France ; and San Giovanni Rotondo , Italy . This itinerary also offers travelers the opportunity to join a Papal Audience in Rome .
We are also seeing an increase in custom tour requests for groups of 20 or more that want to plan their trip to meet their exact needs . In fact , customized itineraries with a faith-based theme are up over 50 percent in 2017 , and we anticipate this trend to continue in 2018 . In addition , we continue to see many groups that simply want to travel together to build faith and community , even if the trip is to a domestic location . Whether it ’ s a U . S . national parks tour or seeing the spectacular fall foliage in New England , a faith-based experience does
not always have to be in what we view as a faith-based destination .
What advice would you give group travel planners regarding faith travel and working with tour operators ?
Drinkhouse : Ideally group travel planners should contact tour operators who regularly plan and conduct faith-based tours , as it ’ s a specialty product . It ’ s not just a question of knowing which cities to include in the itinerary ; it ’ s about knowing why groups should go there . What people can they meet , and what volunteer work can they do nearby ? A tour operator experienced in the faith market can make suggestions about customizing your trip and provide unique experiences that will make the trip unforgettable for your group .
Dyer : Faith-based travelers looking at popular destinations like Spain , Portugal , Germany or Israel — especially those traveling in a group — need to book six to nine months out as these tours sell out quickly , and demand is high . Your best bet is to start planning your trip early with an experienced faith-travel tour operator who can handle all the details and make trip planning seamless for you .
The Best Route to Oberammergau
CroisiEurope Cruises - A Leader in Faith Based Travel
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The Oberammergau Passion Play
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