Heritage, Pilgrimage and the Camino to Finisterre

Abstract

This chapter analyses the socio-economic impact of pilgrimage on local populations. Based on sociological surveys conducted along the route, the principal conclusion drawn from the study is that there is a clear connection between the increasing number of pilgrims following the Santiago-Finisterre route and the transformation of the production model of local communities, which in recent years has moved towards offering services related to the pilgrimage. These activities have resulted in a social and economic boost to the local communities along the pilgrimage route. While the data reflect growth and the revitalization of local communities as a result of this phenomenon, the application of qualitative tools and ethnographic methods leads to the conclusion that, in addition to the effects indicated by the data, this revitalized production also means that local communities face other challenges, such as the black economy, sharp increases in the transient population at specific times of year, interpersonal conflict and the management of resources by other institutional bodies.