Many tour companies that specialize in faith-based travel, or tourism with a religious element or focus, have historically focused on trips to the Holy Land. But with the ongoing conflict in Israel, companies have shifted and pivoted, growing their portfolios elsewhere. 

After tours editor Brinley Hineman reported this story in December, we decided to re-engage here with David Welch, the vice president of business development at Educational Travel Services, to look at this very dedicated market. We talk about where faith-based tour groups are traveling these days – and also why people travel to explore their religion or faith. 

This episode was recorded Jan. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands https://www.globusandcosmos.com

Related links:

A devotion to faith-based travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-devotion-to-faith-based-travel

Q&A with Sherif Fathy, Egypt's tourism minister https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities

Tour operators welcome flocks of Jubilee travelers in 2025 https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-set-to-welcome-flocks-of-Jubilee-travelers

From 2023: Tour operators suspend Israel departures and brace for hard times https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-suspend-Israel-departures

ETS https://www.etstours.com/

Many tour companies that specialize in faith-based travel, or tourism with a religious element or focus, have historically focused on trips to the Holy Land. But with the ongoing conflict in Israel, companies have shifted and pivoted, growing their portfolios elsewhere.&nbsp;
After tours editor Brinley Hineman reported this story in December, we decided to re-engage here with David Welch, the vice president of business development at Educational Travel Services, to look at this very dedicated market. We talk about where faith-based tour groups are traveling these days &ndash; and also why people travel to explore their religion or faith.&nbsp;
This episode was recorded Jan. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.&nbsp;
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Globus family of brands&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globusandcosmos.com">https://www.globusandcosmos.com</a>
Related links:
A devotion to faith-based travel <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-devotion-to-faith-based-travel">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/A-devotion-to-faith-based-travel</a>
Q&amp;A with Sherif Fathy, Egypt's tourism minister <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities">https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Sherif-Fathy-Egypt-minister-tourism-antiquities</a>
Tour operators welcome flocks of Jubilee travelers in 2025 <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-set-to-welcome-flocks-of-Jubilee-travelers">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-set-to-welcome-flocks-of-Jubilee-travelers</a>
From 2023: Tour operators suspend Israel departures and brace for hard times <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-suspend-Israel-departures">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Tour-operators-suspend-Israel-departures</a>
ETS https://www.etstours.com/

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.