La Laguna joins Fitur to the World Network of Religious and Spiritual Tourism Destinations
Since this Thursday (January 23), La Laguna is a member of the World Network of Religious and Spiritual Tourism Destinations (RMDTRE), an initiative promoted by the Tourism and Society Think Tank (TSTT) in collaboration with associated companies, created with the purpose to promote tourism and religious culture in different regions and countries. This network’s mission is to strengthen intercultural understanding, promote respect for religious diversity and contribute to the sustainable development of destinations specialized in spiritual and religious experiences.
The Councilor for Tourism of La Laguna, Estefanía Díaz, received this Thursday within the framework of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (Fitur) the certificate of membership of this global network, ensuring that this recognition “reinforces the municipality’s commitment to a tourism that combines tradition, cultural diversity and spirituality.”
“Becoming part of this network, through the CIT Nordeste, allows us to take another step in our strategy to consolidate ourselves as an international reference destination, not only for our heritage, but also for our ability to innovate and connect with a demanding public, in this case, religious tourism,” said the councilor, ensuring that this type of tourism “has an important cultural and heritage aspect, which delves into the strategy that we have been developing from the La Laguna City Council.”
“The distinctive seal of the RMDTRE will provide greater visibility to the religious festivities of La Laguna, to the attractiveness of its historical architecture, attracting tourists seeking unique spiritual experiences in an environment of great authenticity,” added Estefanía Díaz, emphasizing the need of betting on “an increasingly booming tourism for which La Laguna offers such emblematic spaces as the Sanctuary of Christ, the church of La Concepción, the convent of Santa Catalina de Siena, or the museum of Santa Clara, among others; or even more so with an important legacy in imagery in different religious communities, which are shown in the celebration of Holy Week in La Laguna in a large number of processional steps.”
The World Network of Religious and Spiritual Tourism Destinations functions as a global platform that connects destinations, organizations, companies and experts in religious and spiritual tourism. Through this collaboration, the exchange of knowledge, experiences and good practices is facilitated, with the aim of designing effective and sustainable strategies that respect the cultural and religious heritage of local communities. This approach seeks to ensure that communities actively participate in the initiatives and obtain tangible benefits from them.
Religious and spiritual tourism, in addition to being an important tool for economic development, becomes a bridge for dialogue between cultures and beliefs. Promotes unity between people and appreciation of differences. The RMDTRE is committed to integrating principles of sustainability, ethics and respect, consolidating itself as an essential tool for a more inclusive, enriching and responsible tourism.
New promotion strategy for Heritage Cities
Estefanía Díaz has also taken part in Fitur in the presentation of the new promotion strategy announced this Thursday by the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain and Turespaña under the title ‘A journey through time. World Heritage Cities’. The 15 cities of the Group propose a historical-temporal journey not through conventional tourist destinations, but through unique heritage elements, on which different civilizations have left their mark over time until today. An entire chronological axis that begins in prehistory and ends in the 19th century, determining living cities, preserved with their own identity that have a common path, thanks to their conservation and their respectful adaptation to contemporary use.
Fitur has also hosted the Group’s family photo with the President-CEO of Paradores, Raquel Sánchez Jiménez. The Heritage Cities and Paradores maintain a fruitful and extensive history of joint work and international promotion, hand in hand with Turespaña. There is a preferential collaboration agreement and work will continue on promotion and marketing to enhance the brand positioning of both institutions in the main tourist markets.
