The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced two of the keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines.

The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. Costa Cruise Lines represents one of the newest and most popular vacation choices of today’s faith-based consumer….cruising. Today, hundreds of churches and religious organizations embark each year on cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, among other places.

“As this fall’s Expo will serve as a pivotal moment in shaping new leaders in faith tourism, we are honored with the confirmation of these distinguished individuals as keynote speakers. Both represent different facets in the ‘new era’ of faith tourism,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association.

The Honorable Neko C. Grant is a Member of Parliament (M.P.) and the Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation. In his capacity, Neko C. Grant oversees one of the world’s most proactive tourist offices involved in faith tourism. The Bahamas has the distinction of being one of the few countries in the world with a fully-dedicated religious travel department, led by director Linville J. Johnson.

Maurice M. Zarmati is President & Chief Executive Officer of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. In 1972, Maurice worked with the legendary Ted Arison and was part of the original team that formed Carnival Cruise Lines. As one of Europe’s top cruise lines, Costa Cruise Lines is seeking to expand its market in North America, especially in the ethnic Italian-American and Latino markets, both of which double as robust faith-based consumers.

The World Religious Travel Expo serves as the most important gathering of the “Who’s Who” in today’s faith tourism marketplace. More than 100 exhibitors and more than 400 participants are expected at the unprecedented event. The Expo will be held October 29-November 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.