Igreja/Portugal: Pastoral do Turismo critica esvaziamento guiado por algoritmos

Father Miguel Lopes Neto, director of the Tourism Pastoral in Portugal, warned that algorithms are turning sacred spaces into mere backdrops for travelers. In a message for World Tourism Day, he cautioned that digital tools often dictate travel routes, causing crowds to gather at specific landmarks like Alfama in Lisbon, certain viewpoints in Porto, or Cova da Iria at specific times. This concentration leaves the heritage of smaller towns in the shadows because, as he noted, what does not appear on a screen ceases to exist.

He cited the Capela dos Ossos in Évora as an example, where visitors often queue for photographs while ignoring the meditation on life and death intended by the friars four centuries ago. The director also addressed how unfair digitalization increases inequality for territories without network access, suggesting that the solution is to learn how to navigate these tools rather than disconnecting. His message aligns with warnings from the Holy See regarding the risks of artificial intelligence and the need for tourism literacy to protect local heritage.