The rector of the Sanctuary of Fátima, Carlos Cabecinhas, said today that "price speculation" in accommodation rates was "marginal" during the Pope’s 2017 visit, and highlighted the "very responsible attitude" of hoteliers."At the time of the Pope's visit, on May 12th and 13th, there was a lot of news about price speculation at various hotel.
“From the perspective of the Sanctuary this was always marginal. The majority of hoteliers have a very responsible attitude when welcoming pilgrims who visit Fátima," said Cabecinhas.
2017 was a bumper year for the Shrine of Fátima with 9.4 million pilgrims visiting, many of them present at the celebrations for the Centenary of the Apparitions presided over by Pope Frances.
With the 100th anniversary of the miracle now over, the Church has devised a long list of notable dates to celebrate, including the death of the shepherd children who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary, Francisco and Jacinta, and 100 years of the establishment of the Chapel of Apparitions – all of which will “help us reflect the ecclesial dimension of the message of Fátima,” concluded Cabecinhas, adding that the activity of the Sanctuary is "fundamental for hoteliers", and the welcome given to visitors, "is fundamental to the positive experience of the pilgrims who come to Fátima," so that "they can leave but still want to come back.”
Last year, the highest number of visitors came from Spain, Italy, Poland and the USA with an estimated 72 million watching the Centenary of the Apparitions celebration on TV.
