Dominican Republic hosts international religious tourism congress

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) and the Conference of the Dominican Episcopate hosted the IV Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Religious Tourism Pastoral. The event brought together approximately 40 international delegates to discuss the growth of religious tourism as a niche market that integrates faith, history, and culture.

The congress followed an itinerant format, visiting five ecclesiastical jurisdictions: the dioceses of Puerto Plata, La Vega, La Altagracia, and Stella Maris, as well as the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. Participants engaged in conferences and exchanges to identify challenges and present pastoral initiatives related to the sector.

In a related session, José Armando Tavares, founder of the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA), delivered a lecture on the intersection of artificial intelligence and tourism, addressing the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation in the industry.