Transformative and regenerative tourism on The Way of Saint James
The route allows you to explore monuments, taste local specialties and connect with Spanish diversity.
The Way of Saint James, which in Spain has three popular routes (the French Way, 900 kilometers long; the Northern Way along the coast, 800 kilometers long; and the Primitive Way, which follows sections of the original route and is about 300 kilometers long) is undergoing a change to improve the experience of pilgrims and at the same time encourage local development. The Jacobean route is a captivating journey to Santiago de Compostela, which allows you to discover impressive monuments, explore landscapes, taste gastronomic specialties and get to know cities and places steeped in history. Thousands of people discover Spain's diversity every year through the Camino de Santiago.
In order to have a positive impact on the economy of the towns along the French Way, as it passes through Aragón, Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León and Galicia, the Camino de Europa project has been launched, which promotes a model of regenerative tourism that combines conservation, local development and the generation of authentic experiences for pilgrims. The project allows small producers to offer their products and experiences directly to walkers, in an online marketplace with international reach that allows purchases to be sent directly to homes in the European Community. On the other hand, it encourages activities such as walking and cultural awareness, and rewards hospitality and generosity on the Camino. The WAYS Journeys app is key to the project, because through it pilgrims can access up-to-date information about the Camino, plan their trip and consult an extensive directory of service providers and local producers. Through this tool, pilgrims learn about the history and values of each artisan, fostering a deeper connection with the communities in the area and respecting the spirit of the Camino.
This technology provides a window to the cultural and natural heritage of rural regions, promotes conscious tourism and contributes to the sustainable development of rural areas, which are highly dependent on the maintenance of this type of traditional activities. The Camino de Santiago has been key to the economic and social revival in many towns along its route and has a wide network of infrastructure for pilgrims, from hostels to 4-star hotels, as well as pensions, restaurants, bars and cafes.