The six profiles of the Pilgrim

[Peter Fransiscus]

https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notic...nsideran-turistas/00031526384259440595953.htm


Enjoy

 

[MichaelC]

Interesting study. I tried to find the original report, but haven't so far. I did find other articles that went into more depth on the pilgrim profiles:

Solo travelers
tradicional / traditional: Mostly foreign, makes a long journey, often repeats the experience, generally between 20 and 40 years, with a peak at 60. Value community, natural environment, and safety. Less interested in cultural events. Most satisfied with the experience among the solo travelers.

experto / expert: Mostly Spanish, travels both short and long distances, between 40 and 50, and is especially critical of some aspects of the route.

viaxeiro / traveler: Mostly foreign, young, and does not self-identify as a pilgrim. Makes long trips, and usually does not repeat it.

Group travelers
moderno / modern: Spanish, usually does short journeys, does not repeat, and is the most satisfied with the experience

lúdico / playful (?): Both Spanish and foreign, make short or medium routes, que aúnan diferentes perfiles de ocio, aunque con visiones críticas . (My Spanish is failing me; I can't untangle this phrase ... the best I can do is that "they unite different leisure interests with critical visions" ... whatever that means)

joven / young: Spanish, identifies as a traveler, does shorter routes, least satisfied with the experience among the group travelers.

Other stats: 47% identified as pilgrims, 22% as travelers, 11% as walkers, 9% as believers, 7% as athletes, and 4% as tourists

(I was interviewed by the researchers, and I actually can't remember if I identified as a pilgrim or a traveler ... I still don't fully understand the nuances between them)


I thought these were interesting typologies. They are definitely not the ones I would have thought of! I wonder if the study shows what percentage of each type the researchers found.

As for the rest of the study .. they conclude that there is no overcrowding, just "periods of higher density" on the Camino in Galicia. They base this on such factors as a 60% hotel room occupancy rate, or that only two months actually have a lot of overcrowding, but that it's not year-round ... so I'm a bit skeptical of this conclusion.

 

[SabsP]

As with all statistics...Glad to see how I seem not to belong completely to any specific group here described.

Hehe rebellious me...

 

[Theatregal]

Interesting...like Sabine, there isn't a specific group that I fit in to. Maybe closest is Traditional except I make long, medium and short routes and I'm very interested in cultural events.

 

[Saint Mike II]

https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notic...nsideran-turistas/00031526384259440595953.htm
Enjoy

Hola @Peter Fransiscus . Thanks for this "start" and I note the amplification below your OP, is there a follow-up article? (Not that my Spanish or Galician would enable me to read the original!!).

Oh - I am a solo traveller - but do not belong in the age groups suggested!!
Cheers

 

[MichaelC]

As with all statistics...Glad to see how I seem not to belong completely to any specific group here described.

Hehe rebellious me...

Rebel!

My guess is that the researchers created the typologies after the fact, that they collected the data and then tried to group everyone into categories. I'm guessing that most of us on the forum would be placed in the 'traditional' category, even when it doesn't quite fit. Though without seeing the actual study it's hard to know.

I'm wondering if the "ludico / playful" group aren't those who do those "themed" caminos - gastronomy tours, wine tours, etc. I never met any of these folks in the wild, but I see the advertisements a lot.

 

[t2andreo]

So, according to the typologies above; at 65, American and having done six Caminos, Would I be a "tradicional experto viejo peregrino?" Hmmm?

I prefer 'veteran.'

 

[AlwynWellington]

Solo travelers
tradicional / traditional: Mostly foreign, makes a long journey, often repeats the experience, generally between 20 and 40 years, with a peak at 60.

Oh - I am a solo traveller - but do not belong in the age groups suggested!!

I categorise myself as a "traditional solo traveller" following this study.

But I wonder of the sample size is too small.

My evidence is late one fine Sunday afternoon in mid April 2016 at the end of the steep decent from Aubrac to S-Come d'Olt on the way from Le Puy to Saint-Jean. I had paused to use a seat so thoughfully provided near a pool of running water in a clearing in the bush*. I had been there less than five minutes when two elderly men joined me. Their curiosity was to find who of the three of us was the eldest. We three were all well into our seventies. So much for a "peak at 60"

* Bush is a term used in Aotearoa-New Zealand for original sub-tropical rain forest. It doesn't translate well. Bush normally consists of varied mix of tall trees many species and is often quite dense, usually with ground cover growing under the high canopy. It was a great day on the few occassions I encountered "bush" in France or Spain. That clearing amid the bush was one of them.

 

[Trude]

I’ve walked 7 Caminos and thank goodness I do not fit into any of those categories.

Interesting study. I tried to find the original report, but haven't so far. I did find other articles that went into more depth on the pilgrim profiles:

Solo travelers
tradicional / traditional: Mostly foreign, makes a long journey, often repeats the experience, generally between 20 and 40 years, with a peak at 60. Value community, natural environment, and safety. Less interested in cultural events. Most satisfied with the experience among the solo travelers.

experto / expert: Mostly Spanish, travels both short and long distances, between 40 and 50, and is especially critical of some aspects of the route.

viaxeiro / traveler: Mostly foreign, young, and does not self-identify as a pilgrim. Makes long trips, and usually does not repeat it.

Group travelers
moderno / modern: Spanish, usually does short journeys, does not repeat, and is the most satisfied with the experience

lúdico / playful (?): Both Spanish and foreign, make short or medium routes, que aúnan diferentes perfiles de ocio, aunque con visiones críticas . (My Spanish is failing me; I can't untangle this phrase ... the best I can do is that "they unite different leisure interests with critical visions" ... whatever that means)

joven / young: Spanish, identifies as a traveler, does shorter routes, least satisfied with the experience among the group travelers.

Other stats: 47% identified as pilgrims, 22% as travelers, 11% as walkers, 9% as believers, 7% as athletes, and 4% as tourists

(I was interviewed by the researchers, and I actually can't remember if I identified as a pilgrim or a traveler ... I still don't fully understand the nuances between them)


I thought these were interesting typologies. They are definitely not the ones I would have thought of! I wonder if the study shows what percentage of each type the researchers found.

As for the rest of the study .. they conclude that there is no overcrowding, just "periods of higher density" on the Camino in Galicia. They base this on such factors as a 60% hotel room occupancy rate, or that only two months actually have a lot of overcrowding, but that it's not year-round ... so I'm a bit skeptical of this conclusion.[/QUOTE