Spiritual tourism is becoming a buzzword in travel tours, says Dr Kumar Mahabir of the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Addressing the 2nd session of the International Tourism Conference at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine last Thursday, Mahabir said: "Religious monuments have become the newest attractions for tourists."

He said in the past, such monuments remained untapped but were now being used as a means to educate tourists about the importance of spirituality in Trinidad and Tobago.

"Using the example of the threats to the liberty of Pundit Seudath Sadhoo who had built a mandir at Waterloo on lands of Caroni Ltd and was jailed for so doing, Mahabir said, "Sadhoo was one of the early people who fought for the survival of religion in Trinidad and Tobago."

He said like the Spiritual Baptists, Sadhoo has a place in the historical development of religion.

"He was charged and also imprisoned but when he was discharged from prison he continued his spiritual journey by building a temple on the sea. That temple has become an important monument in the survival of spirituality."

Mahabir, an anthropologist, said in most countries of the Caribbean, in the UK, India, Egypt and the Bahamas huge profits are being derived from spiritual tourism.

He said those countries have been marketing their religious monuments as tourist attractions for the growing number of seekers of spirituality from all over the world.

"Trinidad and Tobago can definitely adopt this marketing strategy since it is the home of a wide variety of picturesque temples, mosques and churches that adorn the multi ethnic landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.

That is something that we can teach the world. One such site is the monumental Temple in the Sea, known to the world for its exceptional history, design and location."

Mahabir was one of the presenters of the Tourism Conference that opened last Thursday at the Daaga Hall of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

Chairperson of the conference, Dr Acolla Cameron said it was not a coincidence that the conference is being held a few weeks before Carnival.

"The timing was to give the participants from the ten attending countries the opportunity to get a taste of what takes place, to celebrate the greatest show on earth."