Holding a degree in Biology from the University of Porto and postgraduate and master’s studies in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Policy, and Ecotourism, Chaves Gonçalves has demonstrated an outstanding ability to integrate scientific approaches with territorial management and the design of innovative tourism products. Throughout her career, she has coordinated municipal and regional strategies, led training programs in accessible tourism, and managed Portugal’s participation in international networks such as the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
Her appointment as National Coordinator represents recognition of her commitment to valuing Portuguese religious heritage—from Marian sanctuaries to lesser-known pilgrimage routes—while fostering connections with rural municipalities, religious organizations, pilgrim associations, and local communities. Her approach blends respect for tradition with a contemporary vision of spiritual tourism as a driver of sustainable development, social cohesion, and cultural innovation.
The World Religious Tourism Network has emphasized the importance of involving professionals who combine technical knowledge, territorial awareness, and operational experience. The addition of Chaves Gonçalves to the coordinating team will enhance collaboration with Portuguese entities, promote the exchange of best practices with other member countries, and contribute to the development of a shared strategy that positions religious tourism as a central dimension of global cultural tourism.
Portugal, with emblematic sites such as Fátima, Braga, the Portuguese Way of Saint James, and numerous historical locations of spiritual significance, offers exceptional potential for tourism that transcends the commercial and connects with the transcendent, the identity-based, and the communal. The national coordination work now undertaken by Ana Catarina Chaves will focus on linking these heritage assets, strengthening the professionalization of the sector, and promoting an inclusive and diverse narrative of the religious experience within tourism.
This renewed organizational momentum comes at a time when religious tourism is gaining prominence in the international tourism development agenda. The World Religious Tourism Network is consolidating its role as a dynamic platform for exchange, promotion, and institutional cooperation among governments, destinations, religious institutions, and sector stakeholders.
Portugal's commitment is thus reinforced with a top-level representative whose exemplary career marks the beginning of a new cycle of growth, visibility, and recognition for the country in the international faith tourism arena.
