The International Workshop on Religious Tourism (IWRT) to be held in Fatima, Portugal, in March 2025, marks one of the most important events for the religious tourism industry. With the participation of more than 130 tour operators from 40 countries, this event offers an international platform for the exchange of experiences and the promotion of spiritual tourism destinations. In addition, the IWRT is a unique opportunity for companies in the sector to strengthen their commercial ties, improve their visibility in the global market and establish strategic connections with key players in religious tourism.
The 2025 edition takes on special relevance as it coincides with the 108th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, one of the most important sanctuaries in the world. Fatima is not only known for its pilgrimages, but also for its infrastructure and capacity to host large-scale international events. The IWRT 2025 offers destinations the opportunity to present their religious offering in a prestigious setting, where history, faith and tourism converge to create an enriching experience for participants.
The IWRT stands out for being an event designed for both suppliers and buyers in the field of religious tourism. Destinations seeking to attract pilgrims and tourists interested in spiritual experiences have the opportunity to showcase their offering in a structured way, through B2B meetings and specialized presentations. This event is an excellent platform for emerging destinations seeking to gain prominence in religious tourism, such as those countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa that have seen an increase in their pilgrimages and religious festivals.
In addition, the IWRT allows participants to interact directly with tour operators, travel agencies, representatives of sanctuaries, and important players in the tourism sector at a global level. These interactions generate opportunities to establish new business alliances and strengthen existing ones, thus contributing to the economic growth of destinations that focus on this type of specialized tourism. Religious tourism has proven to be a resilient segment, not only promoting faith, but also impacting the local economy, generating jobs and promoting the conservation of cultural and religious heritage.
During IWRT 2025, panel discussions will address the main trends and challenges of religious tourism worldwide. Experts from the sector will share knowledge on sustainability in religious tourism, the inclusion of new audiences, and technological innovations applied to the management of pilgrimages and religious events. The COVID-19 pandemic left important lessons on the need to create safe and accessible tourism experiences, and IWRT will be a space where it will be discussed how religious tourism can adapt to this new global context.
Spiritual and religious tourism has undergone an evolution in recent decades, diversifying to include not only traditional pilgrimages, but also spiritual retreats, religious routes and experiences that merge faith with local culture. Countries such as Spain, Israel, Italy, and Mexico have capitalized on this growth, as have new nations that are developing their own religious routes and attracting pilgrims from all over the world. The IWRT is a window for established and emerging destinations to share their best practices and attract an international audience.
Fatima is undoubtedly an ideal location for the IWRT due to its historical and spiritual relevance. Furthermore, its ability to attract millions of pilgrims a year positions it as a key destination for religious tourism. However, the IWRT is not focused exclusively on Europe. It also focuses on the development of other destinations around the world, which see in this event an opportunity to make themselves known and become part of a global community of religious tourism.
In short, the IWRT 2025 in Fatima represents a unique opportunity for destinations and companies in the tourism sector that seek to establish themselves in the field of religious tourism. By bringing together professionals and key players from different countries, the event promises to be a catalyst for the growth of the sector, promoting international cooperation and innovation in a field that combines spirituality, culture and economic development.
