Religious tourism expert urges Church to expand pilgrimage opportunities

Religious tourism represents approximately 20% of global tourism, with roughly 400 million people traveling to faith-based destinations annually. According to Adrián Lomello, director for the Americas of the World Religious Tourism Network, pilgrimage tourism alone generates nearly $18 billion in economic activity.

Lomello suggests that the Church should actively promote religious tourism to realize both spiritual and economic potential. He notes that while pilgrimage is a centuries-old phenomenon, there is significant opportunity to enhance how sites welcome visitors while maintaining their religious integrity.

Latin America is a major player in this sector, receiving approximately 80 million pilgrims each year. The segment in the region is seeing an estimated annual growth rate of between 6% and 8%.