Take a modern pilgrimage to Spiritual Wales

New York, New York – October 29, 2009 - International Passenger Survey statistics indicate that 4% of visitors to Britain polled indicate the primary reason for their trip is visiting religious sites or religious places of interest.

“Religious tourism” is a growing trend with the World Religious Travel Association reporting that the faith tourism industry amounts to $18 billion with 300 million travelers annually.

And Wales is uniquely positioned as an attractive religious tourism destination combining Christian significance with both St. David and St. Patrick reputedly born in Wales, and an intriguing Celtic heritage encompassing Neolithic sites throughout the country. There are even dedicated spiritual and religious tours offered by local tour companies.

So important was Wales' patron saint -- St. David -- to the spread of Christianity, that in 1220, Pope Calistus II declared that two pilgrimages to St. David's equaled one to Rome.  Following in the footsteps of St. David has been a tradition for centuries, with the English Kings William I and Henry II among the early pilgrims. Modern-day pilgrims are seeking out Wales in greater numbers, and while most forego the hardships of yore, the intention of connecting with the sacred remains primary.

With cathedrals in St. David’s,  Llandaff (Cardiff) and St. Asaph (reputedly Britain’s smallest), historic religious sites such as the sacred Bardsey Island off the LLyn Peninsula and St. Illtyd’s Church in Llantwit Major with its important collection of  ancient Celtic stones, visitors can easily plan their own trip using a newly released ‘Factfile of Religious Tourism’ available from www.travelwales.org/religious.

For visitors wanting a more structured tour, two companies that have responded to the growing interest in spiritual travel to Wales are Cambrian Routes and Pilgrim Travel.

Cambrian Routes, a Welsh family-owned business, has created “Of Saints and Stones,” a chauffeur-driven tour that explores Wales' Celtic Christianity centering on Pembrokeshire, the home of St. David's. Founded by St. David in the 6th century as a Celtic monastery, St. David's is Britain's smallest city with a population of 1,800, the spiritual heart of Wales and one of the great historic shrines to Christendom. Visit www.stdavids.co.uk for more information. Cambrian Routes' small group tour travels to remote places of ancient worship not likely to appear on Google Earth. Visit [Back to Press Releases Main]