All the numbers from Santiago - Is the Camno reaching a plat

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola

In the first quarter of the year 20,949 pilgrims arrived. The number of pilgrims from English speaking countries continues to grow. But overall the growth rate appears to be lower prompting Spanish colleagues to wonder if the Camino may be reaching a plateau. Their feelings may simply be a reflection of the country wide concern at the lack of economic growth and rising unemployment. Only time will tell.

The full analysis for the first quarter of the year is here: http://www.johnniewalker-santiago.blogspot.com

Best regards

John

 

[fraluchi]

... overall the growth rate appears to be lower prompting Spanish colleagues to wonder if the Camino may be reaching a plateau....
The full analysis for the first quarter of the year is here: http://www.johnniewalker-santiago.blogspot.com

Many countries would be more than happy with an increase in visitors' volume of 4% :cry:

 

[Kitsambler]

I doubt this is a significant trend. Europe has had a very late and hard winter, hardly the sort of weather that would encourage long walking journeys. But this is a temporary condition.

Also quite a bit of Europe is in recession, especially Spain where (I'm wildly estimating) better than half of pilgrims originate. Also (hopefully!) a temporary condition.

Neither of these factors is any reflection on the intrinsic appeal of the St James pilgrimage. Interest continues to remain high: when I called the bank to report my upcoming trip, the young man answering the phone knew about the Camino and we chatted about it. And the Swiss are about to cut the ribbon on a new connecting route between Zurich and Einsiedeln.

St James is in no danger of going lonesome any time soon, I think.