1st International Conference on Tourism and Pilgrimages

The World Tourism Organisation, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain and the Regional Government of Galicia, Spain, organize the first international conference on tourism and pilgrimages which aims to highlighting the importance for tourism of the historical and cultural legacy of pilgrimages and spiritual routes, focusing on both their religious and secular aspects.

The program will develop various aspects related to sacred places: (i) Popular religious practices, pilgrimage and spiritual tourism. Participation in popular devotions and the search for personal fulfilment are universal motivations for pilgrimages and spiritual tourism. (ii) Franciscanism and pilgrimage. This special session will present four centres of pilgrimage linked to the memory of St. Francis: Jerusalem, Assisi, Varallo and the Franciscan routes of Paraguay. (iii) Pilgrimage tourism and historical and cultural heritage. Tourists and pilgrims are attracted by the historical and cultural legacy present in pilgrimage routes and sacred sites. (iv) Nature as inspiration for tourism and pilgrimage. The paths used in the past by local people and pilgrims, and now also by numerous tourists, cross a wide range of natural spaces; which often constitute cultural landscapes that are rich in spiritual and symbolic values.

The conference registration is compulsory and free. Registration can be done at http://www.pilgrimage2014.com/registration/?lang=en