During the meeting, both representatives briefly exchanged views and proposals around a management vision aimed at consolidating Mexico as a tourism powerhouse with global reach. Within this approach, faith-based tourism occupies a priority place as a specific and strategic product, supported by the strength of a religious heritage of international relevance. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, regarded as the largest Spanish-speaking shrine in terms of annual pilgrim numbers, stands as one of the main symbols of this offer, attracting millions of faithful and visitors every year from different continents.
Mexico’s accession as a country member is added to the participation of other nations and institutions in the region that are already active members of the Network, such as the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT), Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), and PROMPERÚ. This regional articulation strengthens an international cooperation space aimed at making religious tourism more visible not only as a spiritual experience, but also as a tool for sustainable development, social cohesion, and the strengthening of local identities.
One of the elements that distinguishes Mexico within the World Network of Religious Tourism is its broad level of territorial engagement. The country currently has the largest number of affiliated cities that work actively with the Network on the design and implementation of policies aimed at increasing and sustainably managing pilgrim flows. These destinations include San Luis Potosí (capital city), Querétaro, Guanajuato, Zapopan, and Mexico City, all of them with religious, historical, and cultural heritage of high value and with a clear vocation to structure faith-related tourism products.
This territorial leadership allows Mexico to move toward a more structured and professionalized religious tourism model aligned with international trends—one that integrates heritage conservation, improvements to the pilgrim experience, the participation of local communities, and the generation of economic benefits distributed in a balanced way. Likewise, membership in the Network facilitates access to the exchange of best practices, technical cooperation programs, and joint international promotion initiatives.
With its incorporation as a country member, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to tourism that goes beyond the traditional dimension of travel and moves toward experiences with meaning, identity, and deep cultural roots. This step consolidates Mexico as a key actor within the World Network of Religious Tourism and opens a new stage of international collaboration, tourism product innovation, and institutional strengthening, consistent with a long-term vision that positions faith tourism as one of the major pillars of its global projection.
