The visit by Pope Francis to Fátima in May this year ploughed an extra €20 million into local businesses.
The head of the regional tourist board, Pedro Machado, said that cash withdrawals between May 9th and 15th at ATMs in the Fatima and Ourém reached a total of €2.3 million.
"The visit of the Holy Father exceeded all expectations. Fátima assumed its status in religious tourism worldwide, bringing pilgrims from all over the world," said Machado.
The Pope’s visit generated €4.5 million in local accommodation income, €1.5 million for the area’s cafes and restaurants and a further €10 in other sales in the Fatima and Ourém area.
Despite horror stories of hoteliers demanding thousands of euros for a room, the accommodation occupancy rate in the area was 86% (up 7% on 2016 for the same period) with an average room price of €93.
"The worst fears about the price of the rooms were not confirmed," says Pedro Machado, recalling the publication of news reports slamming hotels that allegedly were asking €2,000 per room during the papal visit.
Comments
Way back in 2013 he called for an end to "the cult of money".
And Pedro Machado has not gone into the actual monetary cost of policing the Pope´s visit, as well as the ongoing opportunity cost of the consequent malfunction of the equipment which, as I think, is still not available.
Going back to the years immediately following 1917 events it is clear that some decision making had to be done. Not least to silence news of any further apparitions which, apparently continued, that would have confused the original message. How better but to squirrel the surviving child off to a cloistered order - in Spain? Under close supervision. Never to speak publicly again about her experiences.