The meeting brought together some 40 delegates from Latin America and the Caribbean and addressed the role of the Church, technology and human care in the development of more inclusive tourism
SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican Republic hosted for the first time the Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Pastoral Tourism, an initiative that seeks to strengthen the relationship between tourism, the Church and communities, through the promotion of spiritual, historical and cultural heritage.
The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the Dominican Episcopal Conference, brought together some 40 international delegates under the motto "Towards an ordinary and organic pastoral approach to tourism.".
During the sessions, participants exchanged experiences and reflected on the challenges of tourism ministry, with an emphasis on community integration and the preservation of their traditions.
A tour of five ecclesiastical jurisdictions
As part of its agenda, the congress was held in a traveling format and visited the dioceses of Puerto Plata, La Vega, La Altagracia and Stella Maris, in addition to the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo.
In these territories, conferences, meetings, and exchange activities were held, allowing participants to learn about initiatives related to religious tourism and identify opportunities to strengthen community participation in this segment.
In that context, Kirsis de los Santos Decena, head of the Religious Tourism Department of Mitur, highlighted that this modality represents an opportunity to value the history, culture and expressions of faith of the people.
He also noted that the purpose is for the actors linked to tourism in the jurisdictions visited to be recognized not only for their participation in an economic activity, but also for their role in community life.
Artificial intelligence and human care
One of the topics addressed during the congress was the digital transformation of tourism and its implications for traveler services.
The former rector and founder of the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA), José Armando Tavares, gave the lecture “Artificial intelligence and tourism: ethical challenges and opportunities for a humanized pastoral approach”, in which he analyzed the possibilities offered by new technologies and the challenges posed by their incorporation into the sector.
Tavares explained that artificial intelligence can contribute to improving the tourist experience; however, he warned that its implementation must preserve human attention, accessibility, and inclusion.
Similarly, he raised the need to prevent automation from excluding travelers who have difficulty accessing digital tools and advocated for innovation focused on people's well-being.
From that perspective, the expert called for the promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism, in which technological advancement is accompanied by an ethical and humanistic vision.
Next meeting at the Caribbean Tourism Exchange
As a continuation of these initiatives, the 4th Religious Tourism Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 24, within the framework of the Caribbean Tourism Exchange.
The activity will serve to expand the exchange between the tourism and religious sectors, as well as to promote the Paths of Faith, an initiative developed by the Ministry of Tourism in coordination with the Catholic Church and the Dominican Episcopal Conference.
With these spaces, the institutions seek to consolidate religious tourism as part of the Dominican offer, while promoting the conservation of the country's spiritual, historical and cultural heritage.
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