And a further analysis by forum member Fraluchi:
"Pilgrim arrivals - Santiago de Compostela - May 2013
With 25’206 pilgrim arrivals during the month of May, the year-to-date period closed with 46’155.
Compared to the 41’935 arrivals for the same period in 2012, this represents a solid 10 % increase. And compared to 2011, the increase is a whopping 20%!
As could be predicted, the change in number of pilgrims from Spain has been modest: only a 3% increase compared to 2012 and a 3% decrease compared to 2011.
The growth has clearly been in the number of foreign pilgrim arrivals compared to the total arrivals: 61% in 2013, 59% in 2012, 52% in 2011.
Camino Francés pilgrim arrivals totaled 32’155 during the first 5 months of this year, representing 70% of the total.
Of these, 8’221 (26%) had started their pilgrimage before Pamplona, and 11’727 (36%) from Sárria.
Compared to arrivals during the same period in 2012, these represent an increase of 14% in the number of pilgrims starting before Pamplona, and 24% in the number of starters from Sárria. The “short Camino” seems to be gaining interest!?
Main foreign pilgrims arrived (in order of importance) from Germany, Portugal, USA, Italy, France, Ireland, UK, etc. Particularly pilgrims from the USA have substantially increased compared to 2012 (2’296 vs. 1’433, +60%). Also the number of pilgrims from Ireland and the UK, compared to 2012, has notably increased (2’534 vs. 1’766, + 43%)
So much for the first 5 months in 2013. It looks like a busy summer coming up!"