ASICOTUR
inaugurates the first “Initiatic Path” to the Camino de Santiago outside of Europe
Campo Mourão, Brazil – In an event that marks a milestone in global religious tourism, Brazil officially inaugurated last Saturday, June 7, the “Initiative Paths to the Camino de Santiago” project. This innovative route, patented by the International Association for Tourism Cooperation and Development (ASICOTUR), seeks to promote local development by promoting spiritual tourism.
The launching ceremony took place in Vila Franciscana, Campo Mourão, in the State of Paraná, and was attended by prominent personalities. Among them, Alejandro Rubín Carballo, president of ASICOTUR, and Ricardo Sosa, executive vice president, accompanied by the association's delegate in Brazil, Rubén Orlando Moyano. Local authorities, representatives of the tourism and ecclesiastical sectors also attended, including the mayors of Campo Mourão, Barbosa Ferraz, Curambataí do Sul and Fênix, as well as priests from the four communities through which the new trail runs.
A 105 kilometer route for the soul
The brand new tourist-religious itinerary extends along 105 kilometers of marked trails, winding through the rural areas of central-western Brazil. Connecting 27 parishes and chapels distributed in four municipalities, this path has been conceived as a preparatory route for those pilgrims who, in the future, wish to undertake the traditional Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The project master plan, developed by ASICOTUR In 2023, it contemplated an approximate investment of $750,000. This amount was allocated to the installation of 271 approved signage units, following the strict standards of the original Camino de Santiago. In addition, the project integrates cultural, gastronomic, artisanal and community aspects, in order to enrich the experience of pilgrims and boost the economy of local communities.
The tour begins at the Campo Mourão Cathedral, which houses a sculpture of the Apostle Santiago, and ends in the city of Fênix. Along the way, walkers will be able to enjoy a diversity of natural landscapes, charming small towns, hills, rivers and chapels in excellent condition, many of them dedicated to venerated figures such as Santa Rita, San Antonio and Nuestra Señora Aparecida.
Key collaboration for a pioneering project
The completion of this ambitious project has been possible thanks to the fundamental support of the Tourism Pastoral of the State of Paraná, led by Father Gaspar Silva, and the commitment of more than a dozen local priests. Their collaboration has been crucial in the community gathering, the training of local guides and the joint design of the different stages of the route.
With this pioneering initiative, Brazil becomes the first country in the world to activate an itinerary of “Initiative Paths” towards Santiago de Compostela, establishing a replicable model that amalgamates spiritual tourism, territorial identity and sustainable development.
From ASICOTUR, it is emphasized that this inauguration marks a global milestone, as Brazil is the first country outside Europe to officially activate an Initiatory Path to the Camino de Santiago. This achievement is the result of close collaboration between the public, private, ecclesiastical and community sectors.
“This project reflects the spirit of ASICOTUR: connecting territories, generating opportunities and building tourism development through cooperation,” concluded the president of ASICOTUR at the end of the event, underlining the importance of this new route for global religious tourism.
