Pilgrim arrival statistics – Santiago de Compostela – November 2017
Short by 1.856 to reach 300’000 arrivals in Santiago this year, the November y-t-d total of 298’144, represents an increase of 8% compared to the same period last year. Of these, 44% were Spanish and 56% foreigners. Compared to the same period last year, foreign pilgrims increased by 10%, Spanish by 7%.
Foreign nationals were mainly Germans (+10% vs 2016) with 8% of overall arrivals, Italians (+14% vs 2016) with 9%, USA (+ 15% vs 2016) now reaching 6%, French (+ 3% vs 2016) only 1%, and Portuguese (- 3% vs 2016) representing 4% of all arrivals.
The INCREASE of people walking the various Caminos, compared to 2016, were: Frances +3%; Portugues 27%; Norte +3%; Primitivo +14%; Ingles +17% and the VdlP +2%
Thus the PROPORTIONs of all arrivals in Santiago were: 60% walking the Frances (63% last year), 22% the Portugues (19%), 6% Norte (6%), 5% Primitivo (4%), 4% Ingles (3%), 3% Via de la Plata (3%) and 1% Invierno with others (1%).
The number of long distance walkers (over 450 kms) checking in at Santiago, appear to gradually decrease compared to past years. The opposite is massively true for “100 km” walkers, whether from Sarria (+13%), Tui (+32%) and other “nearer to Santiago” starting points.
Monthly arrivals, in % of the year’s total arrivals, remained steady at 3% during the 1st quarter, 35% the 2nd (peak in June), 49% the 3rd (peak in August) and 13% the 4th (peak in October). The main periodic variations appear over the Easter and other local holidays.