San Luis Potosí in Mexico, consolidates its position as an epicentre of acc

San Luis Potosí in Mexico, consolidates its position as an epicentre of accessible religious tourism with the visit of Pilar Valdés

17-04-25

From Friday 11 to Sunday 20 April, San Luis Potosí is receiving the visit of Pilar Valdés, Director General of the Global Religious Tourism Network, a programme of the Tourism and Society Think Tank. Her presence in the Potosí capital during its most accessible Holy Week festivities in its history marks a milestone in the international projection of religious tourism in the region.

Valdés' visit coincides with the 72nd edition of the emblematic Procession of Silence, an event that attracted the attention of the director, who decided to attend after receiving multiple international invitations, recognising the historical and cultural relevance of the procession, but especially the accessible aspects of it, given that San Luis Potosí is undergoing a beautiful transformation by investing in its destination in order to make it accessible to all types of people.

Valdés' official agenda began on Friday 11 April, with an agenda full of tradition, culture, religiosity and complementary activities, so necessary in the creation of tourism packages and programmes for a destination. His agenda started in San Luis with a visit to the popular ‘Callejón del Buche’ accompanying the Mayor, Mr. Enrique Galindo, Mrs. Estela Arriaga, Senator of the Republic, as well as the Director of Tourism of the Municipality, Mrs. Claudia Peralta, which was celebrating its 135th festivity. This visit is further proof of the importance of religion for the Mexican people, especially the Virgen de los Dolores, but above all the care and attention they put into maintaining traditions for almost a century and a half.

Valdés' agenda has taken her to see the exhibition “Los Adoquines del Silencio”, an inspiring exhibition by Aurora Sara Gutiérrez, a Potosí artist of eco-etching and relief art, designed so that visitors can feel and understand the work through the sense of touch. A truly inclusive art exhibition. That same day, the director general met with representatives of the nearby municipality of Huejotzingo (Puebla) to begin the process of joining the network, following in the footsteps of San Luis Potosí, the first municipality to join the global network in Mexico and whose commitment is being consolidated with Valdés' visit.

A very special visit was that of the delegation from Bocas, a place where the ancestral and the present come together, where he had the opportunity to get to know the living heritage and cultural expressions that enrich the identity of San Luis Potosí and its entire region.

Bocas: where faith meets tradition.

During her visit in the company of the Bocas Delegation, the director of the Religious Tourism Network Pilar Valdés was able to get to know the living heritage and cultural expressions that enrich the identity of the community.

She visited the churches of Guadalupe and Lourdes, where she was welcomed with an emotional presentation of the ancestral dance of the Matlachines, an expression that connects the ritual with the festive.

Afterwards, she toured the traditional mezcalera Patatús, where the most ancestral mezcal is preserved, produced with techniques inherited from generation to generation.

One of the most special moments was his visit to the home of Doña Ana, the last artisan in Bocas who makes Charamuscas, a typical Easter sweet that has been preserved for centuries. The community is already holding workshops to pass on this tradition to new generations and prevent this recipe, loaded with religious and cultural symbolism, from being lost.

Promoting religious tourism at its roots

On this occasion the General Director of the RMDTR Pilas Valdés, met with Father Salvador González where they explored the potential of religious tourism in San Luis Potosí, a corner full of faith and tradition has much to offer.

Dialogue, proposals and a shared vision for the spiritual and cultural development of the region.

Coincidentally, the director met a delegation of UNESCO Learning Cities from South Korea as well as the head of UNESCO World Heritage Cities from Mexico. With both representatives, she had the opportunity to discuss how the Global Network can help to invigorate these destinations.

The following day, a reception was held at the Municipal Palace, where she was received by local authorities headed by the Director of Municipal Tourism, Claudia Lorena Peralta Antiga. During the event, the strategic lines of the municipality for the promotion of religious tourism were presented, with special emphasis on the tradition of the Procession of Silence. Afterwards, Pilar Valdés gave a guided tour of the historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site, visiting iconic temples such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Templo del Carmen and the Templo de San Francisco.

He also announced that San Luis Potosi could host a future world meeting of the World Network of Religious Tourism or the Itinerant Congress of Religious Tourism of Mexico as part of a strategy to articulate collaborative networks in Latin America.

Since his arrival, Valdés has given interviews to local, regional and national media, in which he has highlighted the potential of San Luis Potosí and its undeniable commitment to religious tourism as a tool for diversification and to break the seasonality that is so acute in the tourism sector. In statements to local media, Valdés also expressed his admiration for the cultural and spiritual richness of San Luis Potosí, describing the city as a pioneer in religious tourism worldwide. His visit reinforces the Global Religious Tourism Network's commitment to promoting destinations that offer meaningful and authentic experiences for travellers.

This visit has meant an important step forward in the positioning of San Luis Potosi within global religious tourism, and leaves multiple opportunities for future collaboration between the municipality, local communities and specialised international organisations.

Valdés' presence is also being highlighted on social networks, where images and messages about his participation in local events were shared, highlighting the importance of his visit for the strengthening of religious tourism in San Luis Potosí.

The City Council of San Luis Potosi, through the Directorate of Tourism, led by Ms. Claudia Peralta, reaffirms its commitment to continue working on the promotion and development of religious tourism, strengthening the cultural identity of the city and offering visitors unique experiences that enrich their spirit and knowledge.

Pilar Valdés' visit represents a significant step in the consolidation of San Luis Potosí as a reference destination in the field of religious tourism, projecting its heritage and traditions at an international level.

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