Church Events a Growing Boon to Local Economies, Study Finds

GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Communities that host church retreats and conventions can count their blessings and the dollars the faithful pump into local economies, a new University of Florida study finds.

Pilgrimages, retreats and conventions are fast becoming one of the most reliable and desirable forms of income for the travel industry, said Harrison Pinckney IV. He did the study for his master's thesis in UF's department of tourism, recreation and sports management. Participants usually bring along their families and stretch their visits over three to four days, making a mini-vacation out of the affair by shopping, visiting museums and eating out, Pinckney said.

Read more about this study on Christian Newswire.