Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates, 300 to 330 million tourists visit the world´s key religious sites every year. They further state: "Being key tourism destina- tions, religious heritage sites not only drive tourism and economic growth, but also provide important meeting grounds for visitors and host communities, making vital contributions to tolerance, respect and mutual under- standing between different cultures." Credence Research recently reported that the Faith Based Tourism Market is projected to grow from USD 16,091.10 million in 2024 to an estimated USD 33258.19 million by 2032. Their latest study shows that "key drivers of the faith-based tourism market include the increasing global interest in spiritual and religious journeys, the rising affordability of travel, and the expansion of digital platforms facilitating the booking of religious tours." In the U.S. Travel market, surveys and polls indicate that African-American travelers are more likely than their gen- eral market counterparts, to attend a church or place of worship in a destination that they are visiting. The Black Church has long been intricately in the forefront of African-American experiences. In the1800s churches such as Howard Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland, howardmethodistepiscopal.org , actively partici- pated in the Underground Railroad providing safe havens for enslaved individuals on their journey to freedom. During the 1950s Black churches served as meeting places for groups planning civil rights activities. Often the ministers of these churches were key community and organizational leaders, filtering much of their protest, training and educational programs through their congrega- tions. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced its 2025 Preserving Black Churches (PBC) program cohort. This year, 30 historically Black Churches across the United States received a collective $8.5 million in funding to support critical preservation work from structural restoration work to enhancing stewardship planning. Included among this year's grant recipients are: Guidance Church of Religious Science Los Angeles, California Constructed in 1960, the Guidance Church of Religious Science was the first Black Religious Science congregation in Los Angeles. As a vibrant, culturally enriching center, the church continues to symbolize Black empowerment, com- munity stability, radical welcome, and spiritual empower- ment. For more information visit http://guidancelife.org Guidance Church of Religious Science. Mural painted by artist Aly Kourouma St. Paul United Methodist Church Birmingham, Alabama Founded in 1869, St. Paul United Methodist Church was the site of the first mass meeting following the first major campaign to desegregate Birmingham's public bus system. The church is one of seven sites included in the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. For more information visit https;//stpaulb - ham.org. St. Paul United Methodist Church. Credit Lynn Douglas 14 B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com