For those with a religious bent, or just an appreciation of beautiful and interesting buildings, Turismo de Portugal has launched a website for its latest market sector; religious tourism.
'Caminhos da Fé,' in Portuguese, French, Spanish, Italian and English is an information resource dedicated to religious tourism and aims to position the country internationally as a destination of spiritual and cultural appreciation.
The Secretary of State for Tourism commented today that Caminhos da Fé, (Paths of Faith), now has been launched and shows a summary of resources related to various aspects of religious tourism.
Ana Mendes Godinho added that this is, "a way of positioning the country in a growth market.”
The website includes Fátima, the Camino de Santiago and Portugal’s rich Jewish heritage and soon also will be available in French, Spanish and German.
"It is a process under construction" and "a way of communicating information about this country, which is an ecumenical country, where, regardless of religion, people feel welcomed and feel good," explained Godinho.
The Secretary of State said that religious tourism is being publicised alongside a new programme to attract filming and that is taking place, for example, with the shooting a film about Fátima.
"At the moment we have a great film being made in Portugal, an Italian and North American co-production, dedicated Fátima, with the actor, Harvey Keitel," and that this, "will also be a very important moment in terms of positioning and of international affirmation of Fatima," said Godinho.
Religious tourism has started to attract people from South Korea, the Philippines and the United States alongside the traditional markets of Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada, Poland and Israel, whether in connection with Fátima or related to Jewish heritage.
An extract from the brochure, downloadable as a .pdf from https://www.visitportugal.com/pt-pt/node/204122
reads as follows:
"Travelled since the 12th century, the Portuguese Routes towards Santiago de Compostela are part of a Web of routes to Compostela, and a strong sign of Europe’s medieval cultural identity.
Dating back to the 13th century, the Jewish Sepharad legacy is made up of a historical and cultural heritage of a community that left, throughout the times, deep and decisive imprints for Portugal’s development of seamanship, medicine and economy.
Portugal – Paths of Faith is also a plea for a historical and cultural journey, where the sacred worship and devotion cross paths through pilgrimages, churches, and sanctuaries. The latter considered to be authentic museums of golden carvings, tiles and sacred art, all living icons of the people’s culture.
