Increased tourism demand for religious shrines

Increased tourism demand for religious shrines
article: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/8161.html

RELIGIOUS tourism figures have shown a sharp increase in recent years as millions continue to flock annually to pay homage at Portugal’s top shrines.

According to the latest data released by Turismo de Portugal, each year, more than seven million devoted pilgrims, as well as curious visitors, make their way to the famous sanctuaries of Fatima, Our Lady of Sameiro and Bom Jesus in Braga and Sao Bento da Porta Aberta in Geres.

One of the great pilgrimage shrines of the world, Fatima accounts for almost two-thirds of the total number of visitors, of which around 1.5 million continue their journey to other parts of the country. Fatima is the site of the famous apparition of the Virgin Mary on May 13, 1917, when she is said to have appeared to three peasant children from the hamlet of Aljestrel while standing in an oak tree bathed in a sea of light. The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the children on five further occasions every following month through to October and always on the 13th. To commemorate these events, large-scale pilgrimages are held on the 13th of every month from May to October.

Last Tuesday alone more than 300,000 pilgrims attended the May 13 ceremonies in Fatima.