The Sanctuary of Lourdes is holding its first online pilgrimage today as one of France’s most-visited tourism destinations struggles to recover from the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus.
Nicknamed “Lourdes United”, the organizers will broadcast live from 7 a.m. to ten p.m. (Paris Time Zone) a chain of celebrations, adding masses, processions and prayers. In addition to the priests, several visitors will talk about the influence of a holiday in Lourdes on their lives.
The occasion takes place on July 16, marking the 18th and final anniversary of a woguy teenager named Bernadette Soubirous who claimed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, she in the mid-19th century. Bernadette’s claims, adding the discovery of a fountain that some believe has healing power, led the church to build a giant cathedral on the site of this corner of southwestern France at the foot of the Pyrenees.
Aleven, although its best friend is even considered a critical sacred place of the Catholic Church, Lourdes can also be a primary tourist destination thanks to the 3 million devout pilgrims who travel a year to connect in processions and shower in its waters. The symbol of the national pilgrim to Lourdes last August attracted 25,000 visitors during a day.
In France, Lourdes has the moment when the largest variety of hotels remains one year, just behind Paris. Strolling through the streets of this city of only 15,000 inhabitants full-time, you can cross the streets of the city covered with hotels and branches of devout souvenirs.
While the entire industry in France has been hit, the pandemic has dealt an even bigger blow to Lourdes, where more than 80% of the economy depends on tourism.
Much of this tourism economy has been fueled over the years through pilgrimages from giant organizations, especially friends with Italy. But just over a decade ago, the organization’s pilgrimage photographs fell due to economic changes and demographic changes in the Catholic Church. While congregations in Europe have declined, they are emerging in South America, Africa and Asia. However, the pilgrims of these spaces tend to come alone, or with a circle of relatives, that in a wide organization of tourists.
In 2009, the municipality recorded 3,260,022 “afternoons”, the afternoons that an individual makes in a hotel. (Two other Americans who stay four nights equal 8 “nights”). In 2017, the excessive remains in Lourdes fell to 2,005,732.
The city government has announced systems to resurrect this industry, adding Lourdes’ position as a center for the exploration of the Pyrenees. In addition, last year, a Paris-based manufacturer announced a sumptuous Broadway-flavored musical in the city called “Bernadette de Lourdes”.
The demonstration was a success, selling its first season in Lourdes and generated a wonderful stir for the city. But this year, the musical had to cancel its seasonal coronavirus.
In fact, the sanctuary of Lourdes had to approach its lands for the first time in 162 years of hitale the 2 months of clobound of France. The estate has been open to local tourists since May and hosts a holiday through the Pope.
But that has done little to change the local economy. Most branches and hotels remain closed. And the sanctuary, which he then completely controlled to balance his budget last year after fighting deficits, now says he expects to lose 8 million euros ($nine million) this year.
Meanwhile, a new municipal government has just been elected and the mayor has begun a public meeting with citizens to devise a new economic strategy for Lourdes.
The great apple of stubborn concepts continues beyond efforts to redefine the city’s image to attract more tourists as it moves away a little from its Catholic symbol to herald a more general sense of spiritualism and the meditative aspects of visiting the sacred site. Even if one is never very religious, local tourism officials believe that everyone can find inspiration by seeing thousands of volunteers and local citizens welcoming and supporting the flow of visitors, a large block of which are the sick best friends.
For now, however, the city will have to rely on the national government’s ongoing rescue plans to highlight the big block of its merchants and hotels in operation until foreign tourism returns.
“This could be a historic moment for Lourdes,” said the powerful Thierry Lavit, according to the newspaper La Dépáche. “This crisis has revealed a replaced economic model. We created a new model, all together.
I am an American journalist in Toulouse, France, and I write about technology, travel, culture, politics and entertainment. Before I moved to France in 2014, I spent 15
I am an American journalist founded in Toulouse, France, and I write about technology, culture, politics and entertainment. Before moving to France in 201four, I spent fifteen years covering Silicon Valley for the Los Angeles Times and The San Jose Mercury News. I also run the French website Carrefour.