Santísima Trinidad del Paraná, Agencia IP.- Paraguay’s National Secretariat of Tourism highlighted the importance of international cooperation in consolidating sustainable heritage tourism development at the Jesuit Missions of Santísima Trinidad del Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, as well as other sites along the Jesuit corridor. This took place during a technical visit to strengthen inter-institutional collaboration and ties with local communities.
According to the institution, cooperation with the Embassy of Türkiye in Paraguay has been key to identifying and enhancing the region’s tourism potential, particularly through community-based tourism initiatives and improved visitor access to cultural and heritage spaces. This support enabled the launch of the first phase of a sustainable tourism project in the Mbyá Guaraní indigenous community of Guavirami, aimed at boosting the local economy and strengthening intercultural engagement in the region.
The project’s second phase will deliver a minivan and build tourist stops connecting the Jesuit Missions with the indigenous communities of Guavirami and Kambay, broadening tourism offerings and fostering a deeper understanding of the ancestral cultures present in these territories.
Paraguay as a regional hub of the Jesuit Route
Within the framework of regional cooperation, Paraguay advanced the consolidation of South American cultural tourism with the official establishment of the Technical Secretariat of the Jesuit Route, coordinated by Senatur together with UN Tourism and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). The initiative seeks to coordinate promotion, sustainable management, and international projection of this multi-destination route, which integrates historic territories across Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Bolivia.
The creation of this technical secretariat represents a milestone in international cooperation for cultural tourism. Beginning in 2026, it will strengthen strategic destination planning, produce comprehensive diagnostics, design regional action plans, and establish monitoring mechanisms with active participation from the involved countries.
Sustainable tourism with local impact
Tourism Minister Angie Duarte emphasized that this approach reflects a vision of tourism focused on heritage preservation, social inclusion, and the development of local economies through authentic cultural experiences that respect host communities.
The initiative also aligns with a positive trend in Paraguay’s tourism sector, which has shown growth indicators in the first months of the year, helping position the country as an attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Partnerships that create opportunities
Senatur highlighted the support of various institutions and strategic partners, including the Embassy of Türkiye in Paraguay, the Office of the First Lady, the Government of Itapúa, the Paraguayan Chamber of Tourism of the Jesuit Missions, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, the municipalities of Jesús and Trinidad, and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), as well as international organizations committed to sustainable tourism development.
Through these integrated actions, Senatur reaffirms its objective of promoting tourism that preserves and showcases cultural heritage, stimulates local economies, and strengthens territorial identity for present and future generations.