We need to strengthen religious tourism in Veraguas

The province of Veraguas has maintained religious tourism over the years, but very rudimentary, since it was developed to make a profit in the middle of religious activities, not on a large scale.

Religious tourism was born since ancient times with pilgrimages to temples, monuments, always motivated by faith, with patron saint festivals in important regions.

In the case of the province of Veraguas, it represents a tourist potential where there is much to do.

Areas to visit

In this part of the country, the main pilgrimage is the pilgrimage to Jesus Nazareno de Atalaya, which marks the beginning of Lent and is the largest in the entire country.

To this should be added the fact that this is the most visited district throughout the year, since the parishioners come to this community with faith to pray that their problems of various kinds will be solved, but also to thank the saints for the graces they have received.

Another pilgrimage that grows every year in the province of Veraguas is in the sector of La Mesa, where there is a replica of the Cristo de Bug or Cristo de Los Milagros.

On the first Sunday of May, the number of people visiting this pleasant town increases.

In Santiago, the capital of the province of Veraguas, the ceremony in honor of the Miraculous Medal takes place on the last Sunday of November.

In each district of Veraguas there are different festivities of a religious nature that are interesting to locals and visitors in those communities.

Among these festivals are the patron saints San Marcelo, Santiago Apóstol, San Isidro, San Miguel, San Pedro.

There is also the celebration of Virgins, among which are: Virgin of Candelaria, Carmen and Guadalupe.

In this plan of religious tourism, I could not leave out a visit to temples or monuments, whose artistic and cultural wealth arouses great interest among tourists.

Among the places that tourists should visit are: the small basilica of San Miguel Arcángel de Atalaya, the colonial church of San Francisco de la Montaña, the temple of San José and the mausoleum of Father Guembe in Soná.

New possibilities

On this topic, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Veraguas branch, Fulvia Bósquez de Vargas, pointed out that religious tourism in this province, despite the fact that it is one of the ways that generates a strong economic income for many people in several districts, has more a lot of work.

Bósquez stated that the organization’s process is to reactivate and adapt this economic movement. is in the initial phase

He commented that this type of tourist activity has always existed for many years, but how much has been received cannot be measured because there is no order that reflects these economic inputs.

According to the president of the Veraguas Chamber of Commerce, they are analyzing the regulation of religious tourism activities and getting the most out of it.

“The first thing to do in this region of the country is to organize in every district such as: Atalaya, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Soná, Calobre, Santiago, Montijo, Cañazas, Mariato, where religious activities are held and get the best benefit in the sources of income.