Don’t be surprised by the title. The idea isn’t mine; it’s from a doctoral student named David, an only child of parents from the People’s Republic of China, of the Evangelical faith, who attends our ecumenical parish. This student is writing his dissertation focusing on sustainable tourism.

I believe the topic can also be approached from a faith-based perspective.

In the Gospel, the quintessential pilgrimage center was the Temple of Jerusalem, a subject of criticism by Jesus on several occasions before the poor widow, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21, or with those who praised the greatness of the building, Matthew 24:1-2, or the expulsion of the money changers, John 2.

Perhaps we are witnessing the end of a production cycle that responds to the saturation of the tourism market.

I’m neither an economist nor do I intend to analyze the decline of the vacation industry. It might even sound like a form of resignation and consolation for not having gone on vacation.

I live in a town near the metropolis of Barcelona, ​​and from time to time I have to go there for pastoral reasons or to pick up a book from the capital’s iconic bookstores. But now, it’s Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia that takes center stage. Quite rightly, there isn’t a single interdiocesan event scheduled that isn’t held in the basilica, which is increasingly being mistaken for Barcelona’s cathedral.

It is not recommended for people who suffer from agoraphobia or claustrophobia, as the density of people per square meter is similar to that of a subway at rush hour. The Venerable Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece is truly a theological-biblical catechesis in stone, concrete, glass, iron, materials, and light. It is a theme park about our faith. That alone is a value. We have, for example, the Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo, who asked to work on the building, becoming the principal sculptor and embracing the Christian faith by requesting Baptism.

But when a building or a city ceases to fulfill its original purpose and takes on a different function than the one for which it was created, something is wrong. On one of our recent visits, there were almost a hundred of us priests from the Diocese of Terrassa, led by the bishop. We were on a guided tour led by a woman who spoke perfect Catalan despite the Italian accent that betrayed her origins. She explained the details of the construction, sharing anecdotes and supposed messages from enigmatic figures. However, she repeatedly stated that she was not a believer. This is a common statement here, especially when the topic is religious.

It’s rare in Italy, or in other countries, for tour guides to openly express their beliefs. But what I wanted to mention was that it was noon. The bells of what sounded like a carillon rang out, playing the Virolai, the most popular hymn dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat, patron saint of Catalonia. At that moment, with the basilica full, there was neither silence nor was the Angelus recited. I suggested it, but the explanation given was out of respect for the other visitors who were following the tour with different guides. The tourist attraction, designed to honor the Holy Family, was being treated as a curiosity, not a place of prayer.

The same thing is happening in the big city, where century-old businesses are closing, including some bookstores, to make way for shops dedicated solely to tourism. Single-theme shops are proliferating crudely, where you can buy a small

A figurine intended for the Nativity scene in Bethlehem. This figurine became popular about fifty years ago. We don’t know if the person who buys it will actually set up a Nativity scene at home. In Catalan, the figurine is called a “caganer,” which translates to “pooping man.” Imagine the little figure. They are made to resemble different political or sports figures.

The time has come when tourism in the city center outnumbers the inhabitants, and the few who live there are foreigners who do not speak any of the official languages ​​of Catalonia; the city becomes a stranger to the Catalans themselves.

And the worst part is that it’s growing. There’s a social heritage that has already deteriorated. This phenomenon happening in Barcelona is also occurring in tourist centers that once had a vibrant life. Now they’re ghost towns, teeming with tourists by day and deserted by night.

Large cities can become, for the visitor, an all-you-can-eat buffet of monuments, landmarks, and architectural landscapes, which the traveler looks at, photographs, collects, and shares in order to compete and consume. New technologies have facilitated this. How many beautiful cities or landscapes in the surrounding area remain outside the tourist circuit?

They aren’t leading tourist destinations, but they can offer other attractions beyond the mainstream. They suffer from overcrowding, endless queues to get in, narrow streets, and even dirt and crowds. These common drawbacks of mass tourism, which accompany the consumerist tourist, don’t usually appear in photo essays. We don’t see ourselves returning home with a report detailing the inconveniences of our trip.

The same is true for religious tourism. Catalan cathedrals in dioceses other than Barcelona are rarely visited. As for monasteries, Montserrat captures everyone’s attention, while Poblet, a Cistercian monastery, for example, is ignored. The silence, the light, and the disquiet envelop the visitor, who feels small before the majesty of this monastery city, which forms part of the Cistercian Route along with its neighbors, Vallbona and Santes Creus.

In the children’s sector, there is also a tendency towards capitalist consumption. An American was surprised that Disney was also present in Europe. Not so much because the Disney world wasn’t universal, but because the Green brothers, creators of universally known characters in their children’s stories, didn’t provide any reason to recreate those stories.

What could tourism look like that is more humane, rational, sustainable, and at the same time ecological? Once again, Jesus inspires us to get to know, to walk, to discover, and to connect with new people. When it isn’t him taking the initiative with the Samaritan woman or Zacchaeus, it is others, like the Canaanite woman who, even though she was a foreigner, went out to meet him. (Matthew 9:32-38)

Meeting locals is becoming increasingly difficult, not because these are dictatorial republics where resorts and hotels are luxurious enclaves surrounded by, yet simultaneously isolated from, the poverty and misery of the native population, but because in major tourist destinations the influx of foreigners is so disproportionate that it makes living in a place that resembles a train station uncomfortable. They end up leaving to live in quieter places. That’s why it’s difficult to find Parisians in Paris or Catalans in the center of Barcelona.

The United Nations speaks of sustainable tourism and provides guidelines for it. They are simple and achievable. For his part, Pope Leo XIV appeals to the ethics and morals of wealthy countries that mistreat those who come to our countries seeking a better life. During his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa at the beginning of last month, he called for  a long-term strategic plan capable of welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants and, at the same time, working for development so that no one is forced to emigrate. ” Europe possesses a unique potential , derived from its history and culture, and therefore an equivalent responsibility,” he argued. ” Europe has the capacity  to face the crisis organically.” Perhaps it is time to consider social tourism, both as travelers and as hosts. He said: “In  Lampedusa  too , the culture of hospitality has  a tourist vocation  which, unfortunately, may feel threatened by  migration routes  and develop in  indifference  or even in opposition to its most dramatic aspects,” “It even seems that an  invisible wall  must be erected between the sea of ​​the shipwrecked and that of the vacationers.”

The fact is that tourism is part of culture, and vice versa, culture creates a certain kind of tourism.

Perhaps, as with many things, we should return to our origins. Tourism, as we know it now, was a privilege of the wealthy. Ordinary people, if they went abroad, did so to work.

I remember as a child traveling to our hometown, Vélez Rubio. The relatives who hadn’t emigrated felt no need to leave the town, not even for a visit. In their way of life, holidays, rest, and the occasional special meal were all they needed to be more or less happy. We were the poor ones who had missed out on staying in our place of origin.

Perhaps our cities are not as livable as villages, or perhaps we need to consume and we burn through resources in pursuit of constant novelty.

It’s difficult to make the parishioners understand that in summer it’s good to be in the parish, with hardly any activities and giving a more rational rhythm to everyday things.

But when faced with the possibility of getting away for a few days, we can consider the range of destinations and the available budget, or we can start creating our own getaway. The possibilities are endless.

Lately, I’ve heard of groups of alternative spiritualities occupying guesthouses in Catholic monasteries. The experience for both the religious communities and the visitors is usually fruitful and pleasant. But when I ask the religious why there aren’t any Catholics occupying the building, they tell me there’s hardly any demand.

Another emerging possibility is organizing family summer camps, not just for children, but for the whole family. These are usually organized groups of parents who rent a camp house and provide the children with opportunities to connect with nature.

Some parishes organize group trips where participants spend the morning together until lunchtime at a monastery, retreat center, or summer camp. The focus is usually on spirituality and personal growth. The afternoon is dedicated to sightseeing, typically visiting a monument or city, and, if possible, showcasing local crafts. They also try to feature local cuisine.

While it’s true that when we return and explain where we’ve been, we’ll be at a disadvantage compared to other top destinations, we won’t need several weeks to rest at home due to the exhaustion of a commercial tourist trip.