The First International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages, co-organised by the World Tourism Organisation, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain and the Regional Government of Galicia, aims at:

Highlighting the importance for tourism of the historical and cultural legacy of pilgrimages and spiritual routes, focusing on both their religious and secular aspects;

Discussing the role of tourism policies and strategies in the preservation and management of heritage assets along paths and routes, and thus,

Underlining the positive contribution of pilgrimages to the sustainable and responsible growth of tourism as well as the contribution of tourism towards international understanding.