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Including Religious Sites in Planned Excursions

Travel planners must constantly consider how their choices will reflect on the company for which they are planning the corporate or incentive travel, as well as the inclusivity of their plans for all participants. For example, planners must consider their participants’ dietary requirements, level of physical ability and mobility and, in some cases, religious affiliations. While religion does not always come into play in travel planning, if the participants have a variety of religious or spiritual affiliations, it may be important to provide Kosher or vegan meals, non-alcoholic beverage options, and entertainment that will not exclude participants of a certain faith.

When planning excursions, sites of historical and cultural importance are often on the agenda, and these commonly include religious sites, such as old-world churches, synagogues or temples. This is often particularly true of guided city tours. Religious buildings are often among the oldest structures in any given location and are an important part of the cultural and historical tapestry of the area. However, there is some debate over whether or not inclusion of religious sites is appropriate when planning excursions for groups that are likely made up of participants who diverge widely when it comes to religious or spiritual paths.

If religious sites of historical importance are included in your itinerary, you can avoid unnecessary discomfort and disgruntled participants by making sure everyone is aware of the sites you will be visiting and ensuring that attendees know their participation is entirely voluntary. If you are making plans for a large group, you may want to plan an alternative excursion or activity for those who are not interested in visiting religious sites.

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