San Cosme y Damián, Agencia IP.- Paraguay has taken a significant step toward strengthening regional cultural tourism with the official establishment of the Technical Secretariat of the Jesuit Route in South America, consolidating itself as the coordinating hub for this multidestination route that brings together the Mercosur countries. The initiative stems from a cooperation agreement between the Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur), UN Tourism, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Tourism, Angie Duarte; the Regional Director for the Americas of UN Tourism, Gustavo Santos; and the Director of Tourism at CAF, Óscar Rueda, during a ceremony held at the Jesuit Mission of San Cosme y Damián, one of the country’s most important heritage landmarks.

With technical assistance from UN Tourism and financial backing from CAF, the creation of this Secretariat aims to coordinate actions to promote, sustainably manage, and internationally project the Jesuit Route, in close cooperation with the Mercosur member states. In this way, Paraguay assumes a strategic regional leadership role, strengthening its position on the cultural tourism agenda.

Minister Angie Duarte emphasized that the goal is to consolidate a regional operational structure that increases the visibility of this multidestination route. “We will enhance its tourism and heritage value to stimulate local economies through authentic, inclusive, and sustainable cultural experiences,” she stated. She also stressed that establishing the Secretariat in Paraguay represents a vote of confidence, committing the country to lead responsibly, listen to communities, and work in close coordination with each nation in the Route.

For his part, the Regional Director for the Americas of UN Tourism, Gustavo Santos, described the Jesuit Route as an extraordinary historical, cultural, and tourism resource. «May it be an invitation to men and women from around the world to discover this legacy and, above all, to get to know the communities that today inhabit these territories and preserve the same Jesuit spirit,» he said.

The new Technical Office will become part of the network of regional offices promoted by UN Tourism in South America, reinforcing the region’s strategic role in the global cultural tourism agenda. Its establishment also coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Jesuit Route in 2026, providing a symbolic and strategic framework for this designation.

The Jesuit Route preserves and articulates the shared historical, cultural, and religious identity of the territories traversed by the Society of Jesus in South America over several centuries. This corridor spans thousands of kilometers and highlights the cultural and natural heritage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The Jesuit Route preserves and articulates the shared historical, cultural, and religious identity of the territories traversed by the Society of Jesus in South America over several centuries. This corridor spans thousands of kilometers and highlights the cultural and natural heritage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Paraguay’s selection as host country represents a historic opportunity to promote the integral and sustainable development of the communities linked to this route. Among the Technical Secretariat’s first actions are the preparation of a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the current state of the Route, the participatory design of a regional action plan, and the implementation of a monitoring and follow-up system to ensure the active participation of all countries involved and the sustainability of the project.

In 2024, the member countries approved a regional governance model to strengthen coordination and strategic planning for the development of this multidestination route, laying the foundations for consolidating the Jesuit Route as a regional tourism product of high historical, cultural, and spiritual value.

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