How many pilgrims will have walked this year?

[alexwalker]

I just checked the numbers of Compostelas issued yesterday: 102. (!) If we do some rudimentary math on it, in the first 10 months of 2020, some 30.000+ will have received their Compostelas so far. Arguably, some days may have been higher, and of course some die-hards, like me, do not claim a Compostela anymore, and are therefore outside statistics. Nevertheless, maybe we are into the 10-15% figures compared to a normal year? The impact on local businesses of all kind must be devastating.

Just wondering...

 

[Deleted member 34316]

some 30.000+ will have received their Compostelas so far

A bit more... so far, according to the Pilgrims Reception Office in Santiago, 46790 compostelas have been issued.
6785 in the Q1, zero in Q2 and 40005 in Q3.
If the fourth quarter was similar to the first, then the answer for your question would be 53575
That's still 15% of the 2019 numbers.

Another question: is 15% of a typical Holy Year crowd still a crowd? And if 50% of the albergues will reopen with 50% capacity, will there be a bed for everyone?

 

[Dougie1982valley]

Very worrying prospect for many. I think of the Camino and the livelihoods associated with it every single day. I have donated a very small amount to a handful of albergues through this platform and wish I could do more but I feel helpless to support the broad Camino family as a whole. The infrastructure and human spirit that supported me through my two Camino’s was more than i could have anticipated and all I can do is extend my warmth, positivity and optimism through the ether. Buen Camino to all.

 

[Former member 92300]

It is tragic. I was supposed to walk last May. Some reservations were automatically refunded, but I did not ask for all my refunds back, knowing they would be facing hardship. I am currently planning my trip for the upcoming summer... one year anniversary of the trip that never was. Hoping there is improvement in the pandemic. I would wait until 2022... but I need to use my airline ticket points from the cancelled flights this year, and the only time I could go would be summer. Prayers and fingers cross that the world settles down!

 

[David Tallan]

A bit more... so far, according to the Pilgrims Reception Office in Santiago, 46790 compostelas have been issued.
6785 in the Q1, zero in Q2 and 40005 in Q3.
If the fourth quarter was similar to the first, then the answer for your question would be 53575
That's still 15% of the 2019 numbers.

Another question: is 15% of a typical Holy Year crowd still a crowd? And if 50% of the albergues will reopen with 50% capacity, will there be a bed for everyone?

For what it's worth, that will still be 10x the number of Compostelas given out the year I first did the Camino.