MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Holy Week boosts Paraguayan tourism: 90% hotel occupancy and 36% revenue increase

Senatur promoted the season under its “Guide Your Inner Self” campaign

Domestic tourism during Holy Week in Paraguay grew 15% compared with the previous year, with 409,431 visitors generating revenue of $55.5 million, a 36% increase, the National Tourism Secretariat (Senatur) reported based on data from its Tourism Observatory.

Hotel occupancy reached a nationwide average of 90% between April 1 and 5, a period during which 323,656 vehicles traveled the country's highways, according to records from the Asunción Bus Terminal and toll data from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.

“These numbers reflect the coordinated effort of Senatur's technical team with various state institutions, consolidating tourism as an engine for economic development,” said Tourism Minister Angie Duarte.

Processions and traditions as tourist magnets

Religious celebrations were the main draw. The candlelight and torch procession in Tañarandy, in the department of Misiones, topped the list with some 30,000 visitors on Good Friday. It was followed by the Kurusú Cerro procession in Yaguarón, with 15,000 attendees, and the dramatized Way of the Cross in the city of Altos, in central Paraguay, which drew 10,000 people.

The Way of the Cross in Atyrá attracted 5,000 visitors, matching the figure recorded at Villa Elisa's Kurusú Rape, while the Passion of Christ reenactment in Caacupé gathered 2,000 people.

Heritage, nature and infrastructure

The Jesuit missions in the department of Itapúa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, received 3,961 visitors, spread across Trinidad del Paraná (1,888), Jesús de Tavarangue (1,110) and San Cosme y San Damián (963).

The tourism complexes at the binational hydroelectric plants also posted notable figures: Itaipú recorded 15,423 tourists and Yacyretá welcomed 5,115 visitors. Nature destinations attracted 3,070 visitors, while national cultural venues drew 10,925 attendees.

Senatur promoted the season under its “Guide Your Inner Self” campaign, an offering that combined spirituality, traditional gastronomy — with chipa-making as a central experience — and historical tours. Among the most popular offerings were the Seven Churches Route in Asunción, circuits along the Jesuit route combined with Ciudad del Este, and adventure tourism packages.

Paraguay maintains the tradition of Holy Week as one of the main drivers of domestic tourism. Data on inbound tourism — international visitors — is still being compiled, Senatur indicated.