UNITED STATES CELEBRATES WORLD HERITAGE INSCRIPTION OF SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

USPA NEWS - The United States celebrated the World Heritage Inscription of the San Antonio Missions, including the historic Alamo, with a monumental ceremony at Mission San Jose, "the queen of the missions." Descendants of tribes who resided at the missions, along with church parishioners and visitors...

The United States celebrated the World Heritage Inscription of the San Antonio Missions, including the historic Alamo, with a monumental ceremony at Mission San Jose, "the queen of the missions." Descendants of tribes who resided at the missions, along with church parishioners and visitors joined Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, the National Park Service and a delegation of elected officials to honor the story of these missions and their role in United States and World history. As the largest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in the U.S., these 18th century Spanish missions symbolize an era when the world was expanding, cultures were intertwining, and the global landscape was forever changed.

The designation was announced on July 5th at the annual UNESCO World Heritage committee meeting in Bonn, Germany. The Missions are the third designation in the country in the last 20 years and the first in Texas. A UNESCO designation is a catalyst for socio-economic change, with increased visitation and tourist spending.

For San Antonio, the impact will be even more significant, as tourism is one of the city's top five industries, providing one in eight jobs and more than $12 billion annually. By 2025, the World Heritage Site economic impact on San Antonio and Bexar County is expected to generate an additional $44 million -$105 million in economic activity, with over 1,100 newly created jobs.

As protected historic sites, the Missions host millions of visitors each year. All except The Alamo are still active Catholic parishes, some with descendants of the original congregants.

Whether a visitor is interested in attending a mariachi mass, hiking from Mission to Mission or simply enjoying a self-guided tour, there are many ways to immerse oneself in the days and influences of colonial Spain.

Source : San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau

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