Tourism Business as the World’s Largest Industry and Employer

Wine tourism refers to tourism whose purpose is or includes the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine, often at or near the source. Wine tourism can consist of visits to wineries, vineyards and restaurants known to offer unique vintages, as well as organized wine tours, wine festivals or other special events.
Many wine regions around the world have found it financially beneficial to promote such tourism; accordingly, growers associations and others in the hospitality industry in wine regions have spent significant amounts of money over the years to promote such tourism. This is true not only to "Old World" producers (such as Spain, Portugal, France or Italy), but also for the so-called "New World wine" regions (such as Australia, Argentina, Chile, United States or South Africa), where wine tourism plays an important role in advertising their products. In Argentina, for example, the Mendoza Province is becoming one of the tourist destinations in the country as Argentine wine strides to gain international recognition. Similarly, the National Wine Centre of Australia showcases the Australian wine industry, and visitors from around the world visit Northern California's Wine Country.
Religious Tourism
Religious tourism, also commonly referred to as faith tourism, is a form of tourism whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage, missionary, or leisure (fellowship) purposes.
Tourism Segments
Religious tourism comprises many facets of the travel industry including:

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  pilgrimages;
  
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  missionary travel;
  
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  leisure (fellowship) vacations;
  
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  faith-based cruising;
  
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  crusades, conventions and rallies;
  
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  retreats;
  
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  monastery visits and guest-stays;
  
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  faith-based camps;
  
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  religious tourist attractions.
  

Statistics
Although no definitive study has been completed on worldwide religious tourism, some segments of the industry have been measured:

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  According to the World Tourism Organization, an estimated 300 to 330 million pilgrims visit the world's key religious sites every year.
  
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  According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Americans traveling overseas for "religious or pilgrimage" purposes has increased from 491,000 travelers in 2002 to 633,000 travelers in 2005 (30% increase). North American religious tourists comprise an estimated $10 billion of this industry.
  
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  According to the Religious Conference Management Association, in 2006 more than 14.7 million people attended religious meetings (RCMA members), an increase of more than 10 million from 1994 with 4.4 million attendees.