The opening ceremony included a brief speech by Pilar Valdés, Director General of the Network, who highlighted the magnitude of the Congress and its itinerant nature, which will allow it to tour various regions of Colombia, showing its cultural, spiritual and natural wealth. She also expressed her gratitude for the large attendance at the press conference.

Valdés then gave way to various institutional and territorial representatives. Firstly, Father Diego Jaramillo, president of the Corporación Organización Minuto de Dios, and Monsignor José Mario Bacci Trespalacios, Bishop of Santa Marta and member of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, highlighted the importance of the event as a tool to bring the faithful closer to Jesus, foster reconciliation and promote peace.

Outstanding participation of local authorities

The Director of the District Institute of Tourism (IDT) of Bogotá, Andrés Santamaría, emphasised the opportunity that religious tourism represents to strengthen the tourism offer of the capital: ‘In Bogotá, we work for a sustainable and inclusive tourism, where spirituality and history are part of the experience of each visitor’.

Liliana Rodríguez Hurtado, executive president of Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias, said: ‘Cartagena de Indias, with its history and tradition, is a key destination for religious tourism in Colombia. We want visitors to experience the essence of the city through its faith and heritage’.

Naydú Romero, representative of Ibagué, highlighted the combination of nature, culture and faith in the city, reaffirming its commitment to religious tourism. Luis Eduardo Bravo Montero, Secretary of Tourism of Guadalajara de Buga, underlined the relevance of the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles as a spiritual and touristic reference in Colombia.

The Mayor of Popayán, Juan Carlos Muñoz Bravo, also participated in the presentation, highlighting: ‘Our city is an epicentre of religious and cultural tourism. With an internationally renowned Holy Week, Popayán becomes a meeting place for faith and tradition. This congress will promote religious tourism as a tool for development and dialogue between cultures.

Antonio Santos, president of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, reinforced the importance of the Congress in the country's tourism and cultural agenda, highlighting that Colombia will be positioned as a key destination for religious tourism in Latin America. ‘This event will attract visitors from all over the world, strengthening the local economy and promoting cultural exchange,’ he said.

The press conference was closed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Juan Manrique, who emphasised: ‘This Congress represents an opportunity to strengthen tourism as a tool for reconciliation and sustainable development. The joint work between the government and the private sector will generate more opportunities for local communities’.

Participation of institutions and companies

The event was also attended by various actors from the private sector, such as Thelma Gómez, Tourism Director of FENALCO, the commercial director of LATAM airline and Álvaro Garnica-Alvares Alonso, president of Global Journey Consulting, an international consultancy firm. These interventions highlighted the importance of a joint vision between the public and private sectors to ensure the success of the Congress.

Strategic alliances and institutional support

The impact and viability of the Congress depends on the support of government institutions and companies in the tourism sector. Strategic alliances have been established with sponsors and municipal corporations to maximise the reach of the event and ensure its success.

In turn, the participation of church authorities reinforced the value of religious tourism as a key tool for evangelisation and faith strengthening, both in local communities and among international visitors. One of the church leaders present stated: ‘Religious tourism not only enriches the spirit, but also generates new development and employment opportunities in our communities.said