IWRT - Workshop

Reception of participants and Registration.

Official Opening Session of the IWRT

Fr. Carlos Cabecinhas, Rector of the Sanctuary of Fátima;
Pedro Mafra, President of the Board of ACISO;
Rui Ventura, President of the Regional Tourism Authority of Centro de Portugal / Regional Tourism Promotion Agency of Centro de Portugal;
Jorge Brandão, Member of the Management Committee of the Regional Program of Centro;
Cláudia Guedes, Councilor of the Municipality of Guarda;
Manuel Jorge Valamatos, President of the Intermunicipal Community of Médio Tejo;
Teresa Ferreira, Director of the Department for the Promotion of Tourism Resources at Turismo de Portugal;
Francisco Calheiros, President of the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal;
Luis Albuquerque, President of the Municipality of Ourém;
Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services.

Brief Musical Moment with Tenor João Mendonza

Guest Country – Lithuania 
Land of Hope, Mercy and Living Faith
Lidija Bajarūnienė - Vice-President of the European Travel Commission
Representative of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, Republic of Lithuania;
Jolanta Masiulienė - Head of Marketing and Communication Department, "Lithuania Travel";
Joana Mikulska - Tourism B2B Partnership Manager, "Go Vilnius";
Jurga Nekrošiūtė - Tourism Manager, "Discover Raseiniai".
In the XIII edition of the IWRT – International Workshops on Religious Tourism, Lithuania presents itself as the guest destination. This choice highlights the country as a global reference in religious tourism, spirituality, and faith heritage. With a history marked by resilience, devotion and symbols that transcend generations, Lithuania invites pilgrims and spiritual travelers to discover a land where faith blends with landscape, culture, and the identity of its people.

Brief Musical Moment with Tenor João Mendonza

Conference
"Places of Faith: Memory, Spirituality and the Pilgrim´s Experience"
Speaker: Marco Daniel Duarte, art historian and director of the Sanctuary of Fátima Museum
Born from the phenomenon of the 1916–1917 Apparitions, the Sanctuary of Fátima developed from a unique material and immaterial heritage, and today stands as one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the world. Through its history, message, and the places associated with it, Fátima offers pilgrims and visitors a profoundly spiritual, cultural, and human experience, marked by authenticity and hospitality, related to other major pilgrimage centers.

"The Virgin Mary´s Living Heritage in Egypt Through the Holy Family Route"
Speaker: Jolit Shaker, Researcher in Sacred Geography at the University of Fribourg and Collaborator with the Coptic Orthodox Church on the Holy Family Route in Egypt

Municipality of Lujan - Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina
"First Ibero-American Forum of Marian Cities"
Speaker: Leonardo Boto Alvarez

Lunch at Centro Pastoral Paulo VI

(Reserved to institutional guests, Buyers, Exhibitors, Suppliers and Speakers)

Networking Session (reserved for registered Buyers, Exhibitors with access to meetings and Suppliers)

Presentation ARPT Center of Portugal

Coffee-Break

Closure of the Networking Session        

Transfers to dinner 

Official Dinner  

Courtesy of the Regional Tourism Entity of Centro de Portugal

(Reserved for institucional guests, registered Buyers, Exhibitors and Suppliers)