Across the Americas, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil welcomes more than 12 million pilgrims each year to one of the world's largest and most modern Marian shrines. In Colombia, the city of Buga stands as another remarkable example of religious tourism's transformative power. The Basilica of the Lord of Miracles attracts more than three million pilgrims annually, turning this small city in the Valle del Cauca into a thriving center of faith and economic activity. Religious devotion fuels local businesses, benefiting hotels, artisans, restaurants, and small retailers that have found in pilgrimage a stable and sustainable source of income. During major religious celebrations, the city comes alive with spirituality and prosperity, demonstrating how faith can become a powerful driver of both cultural vitality and regional economic development.

In Argentina, the city of Luján—home to the country's Patron Saint, Our Lady of Luján—welcomes approximately seven million pilgrims every year. This remarkable influx of visitors has prompted local authorities to modernize urban infrastructure and expand public services to accommodate the steady flow of religious travelers, particularly during weekends and the annual National Pilgrimage, which alone brings together nearly three million young pilgrims.

In Guatemala, religious tourism has developed a distinctive identity rooted in the fusion of Indigenous traditions and Christian heritage. The Holy Week processions in Antigua Guatemala, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, attract thousands of national and international visitors every year, generating hotel occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent. The city's cobblestone streets are transformed into vibrant displays of color and fragrance, while the intricate sawdust carpets created by local communities become ephemeral masterpieces where faith is expressed as a collective work of art.

Across the Atlantic, Fátima, Portugal, continues to serve as Europe's foremost spiritual beacon. Since the Marian apparitions of 1917, the sanctuary has welcomed more than 200 million pilgrims, establishing itself as one of the world's leading religious destinations. Its management model—built upon hospitality, sustainability, and technological innovation—is now widely regarded as an international benchmark for religious tourism. Fátima demonstrates that spirituality and modernity can coexist successfully without compromising authenticity. The municipality of Ourém has become a leading example of effective religious tourism management and destination development.

On a global scale, the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) estimates that nearly 400 million people travel each year for religious or spiritual purposes, representing between 15 and 20 percent of all international tourism. Behind these figures lie countless stories of faith, hope, and personal transformation, as well as an economic sector that continues to grow alongside pilgrimage traditions. Industry forecasts project an average annual growth rate of approximately 8 percent over the next five years.

Religious tourism does far more than stimulate local economies; it strengthens cultural identities and builds bridges between peoples and civilizations. At a time when speed and transience increasingly define modern life, these sacred destinations offer something many travelers seek above all else: meaning. Wherever communities open their doors to pilgrims, faith becomes a catalyst for development, and every journey becomes an opportunity for cultural exchange, spiritual enrichment, and sustainable growth.

Mar del Plata, Argentina

Jult 1, 2026

Author: Lic. Adrián Nelso Lomello

Territorial Director for the Americas – World Religious Tourism Network