Interview with Rosario Bianco Burgos
Uruguay Coordinator
Rosario Bianco Burgos
Uruguay Coordinator
Recognized tour operator in Uruguay, she has served as president of the Uruguay-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and holds a Diploma in Religious Tourism. She is a pioneer in the development of Religious Tourism in Uruguay and has organized the Second International Shrine Conference in Florida, Uruguay. In addition, she has actively participated in the international project “Camino de los Jesuitas” in Florida, Uruguay, being part of the team that received the prestigious Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Award for this project.
In the academic field, she is a Professor of Mystical Tourism at the Catholic University. She has also been an organizer of the event “The Night of the Temples”, a meeting that promotes the visit and knowledge of various religious temples. Her career is characterized by a strong commitment to the promotion and development of religious tourism, as well as by her leadership capacity in international projects that highlight the cultural and spiritual richness of the region.
Could you describe your role and perspective as National Coordinator in the Global Network of Religious and Spiritual Tourism Destinations?
Uruguay is in a phase of developing the cultural and patrimonial values of Religious Tourism, as a technician in this area I assume the responsibility of working together with public and private teams, coordinating to achieve this objective.
What do you consider to be the importance of religious and spiritual tourism in your country?
Uruguay began to consider the importance of this topic when we held the First Meeting of Religious Tourism in 2013. We became aware that it is a manifestation that unites culture and religion, allowing us to rediscover and value art, architecture, writing, painting, music, dance, which is a manifestation that begins with the history of our country.
What are the most popular destinations for religious and spiritual tourism in your country?
1- Maldonado Punta del Este February 2nd: Virgin of the Candelaria
The story that began to be written more than 2 thousand years ago in Jerusalem, which brought Juan Diaz de Solis arrived on the shores of Maldonado on February 2 in the year 1516 to our lands and later began to celebrate the first inhabitants of what is now Punta del Este, is revived every year in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria, patron saint of the main resort of our country.
2 - Montevideo February 02: Iemanjá celebration Popular Religiosity
On February 2nd the beaches of Montevideo receive numerous people who congregate to celebrate the Goddess of the sea, Iemanjá: Playa Ramirez is the most popular.
It is a festivity linked to the Afroumbandista cult. The faithful, with white and light blue references, come to the beaches at sunset to offer their offerings to the mother of all orixás. The orixás are intermediate entities between human beings and the supreme being (Zambi), creator of everything, linked to the natural forces.
3 - Lavalleja Minas - April 19: Virgen del Verdun Sanctuary
Sanctuary of Our Lady Virgen del Verdun, (Virgin of the Immaculate Conception) patroness of the city and the diocese of Minas. The annual celebration of the feast, on April 19, gathers more than 80,000 pilgrims. From the beginning the festivity was programmed for April 19 because it was the day of the disembarkation of the Thirty-three Easterners, led by Juan A. Lavalleja (born in Minas). The feast thus links the national heroic deed of independence (1825) with the patronage of the Virgin Mary.
4 - Florida - June 03 - Saint Cono
Pilgrimage Popular Religiosity, does not integrate the Catholic authority belongs to the community of descendants of immigrants from Teggiano Italy that since 1885 brought the image to Florida to continue venerating the Holy Protector of their people.
In October 2011 the Brotherhood between the Mayor's Office of Teggiano and the Municipality of Florida was signed, projecting the beginning of an international pilgrimage.
How does religious and spiritual tourism impact the local economy?
In Uruguay, Religious Tourism is not yet developed enough to be able to evaluate the impact on the economy.
We can highlight that in the places where this theme would be projected, it would promote the creation of new businesses, generating interest in national and international companies to invest in the country, therefore, it provides new jobs.
It improves the quality of life of the locality by improving the economic income of the population.
What are the main challenges facing religious and spiritual tourism in your country?
Year after year we are overcoming situations or experiences to the work of Religious Tourism. Uruguay is developing this topic with all religious communities. We hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to work with the private sector and the authorities to give the importance that this topic has.
How do you think religious and spiritual tourism is evolving in terms of new technologies or innovative practices?
Uruguay manages and incorporates technological tools used in the tourism sector. It is working hard to improve the country's connectivity.
Could you highlight any important event or festivity related to religious tourism in your country?
An innovative activity is the event The Nights of the Temples, which began in the city of Montevideo, extending to several cities in the interior of the country. On December 3, 2023, it crossed borders and was held in the cities of Chuy Uruguay Chui Brazil.
Is there any personal experience or story you can share that illustrates the impact of religious or spiritual tourism?
An enriching experience, collaborating with the Municipality of Florida in the research and realization of the Jesuit Road Project in the department of Florida. I was also part of the team that won the IDB Award for the Jesuit Trail.
Personal experience, the presentation of the First Day of Religious Tourism in Uruguay.
How do you collaborate with other international delegates to promote religious and spiritual tourism?
By integrating international organizations and participating in international events, working to unite circuits of our countries.
What is your vision for the development of religious and spiritual tourism in your country?
My vision is to be able to achieve a reliable, sustainable and accessible religious tourism product; this task is not easy, since it involves several fundamental steps to be worked on by the private sector and the government. A pending, constantly claimed to prepare the guides in Religious Tourism, fundamental for the product.
What message would you like to send to those who are considering visiting religious and spiritual sites in your country?
The tourist will receive a warm welcome, we recommend booking the desired visits prior to arrival. Montevideo will soon have a platform with the most important temples, which will be a very agile guide.
The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this document and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of Tourism and Society Think Tank and do not commit the Organization, and should not be attributed to TSTT or its members.
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