Keywords
pilgrim
social survey
trends in pilgrimage
tourist
How to Cite
Abstract
This study examines the evolution of the Camino de Santiago into a hybrid of religious pilgrimage and spiritual tourism. Through statistical analysis and interviews with members of the Camino de Santiago Polska Facebook group, the research provides insights into the evolving nature of this historic route. Analysing data from 2003 to 2024, it reveals a significant increase in the number of international pilgrims. While religious motivations persist, non-religious and mixed motivations increase, especially after the pandemic. The study concludes that the Camino de Santiago represents a diverse form of tourism, blending religious and secular motivations, with implications for sustainable tourism development.
Funding
The research was financed by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.
References
Ahuja P., Syal G., Amarjit K., 2020. Psychological stress: Repercussions of COVID-19 on gender. Journal of Public Affairs 21(3): 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2533
Awasthi A., Nain A., 2023. A study of issues and challenges of global pilgrimage tourism. In: Gupta S., Aragon L.C., Kumar P., Madhurima S., Ramasamy R. (eds), Prospects and challenges of global pilgrimage tourism and hospitality. IGI Global, USA: 139-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4817-5.ch011
Budovich L.S., 2023. The impact of religious tourism on the economy and tourism industry. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 79(1): 8607. Online: https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-hervorm_v79_n1_a8607. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i1.8607
Das A., Kondasani R.K.R., Deb R., 2024. Religious tourism: A bibliometric and network analysis. Tourism Review 79(3): 622-634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-08-2022-0387
IBIMS, 2021. Poles on the Internet, or where do we get our knowledge of the reality around us? Institute for Internet and Social Media Research Report, Warsaw. Online: https://ibims.pl/polacy-w-internecie-czyli-skad-czerpiemy-wiedze-na-temat-otaczajacej-nas-rzeczywistosci-analiza-badania-ibris/ (accessed 16 December 2024).
Ingram H., 2013. Inns and hotels in fiction. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes 5(1): 27-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17554211311292420
Karantzavelou V., 2018. Solo travel soars in popularity: 42% increase in bookings since 2015. Travel Daily News. Online: https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/solo-travel-soars-in-popularity-42-increase-in-bookings-since-2015 (accessed 3 January 2025).
Kim B.S., Kim S., King B., 2020. Religious tourism studies: Evolution, progress, and future prospects. Tourism Recreation Research 45(2): 185-203. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2019.1664084
Liro J., 2020. Visitors’ motivations and behaviours at pilgrimage centres: Push and pull perspectives. Journal of Heritage Tourism 16(1): 79-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2020.1761820
Lopez L., 2013. How long does the pilgrimage tourism experience to Santiago de Compostela last? International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage 1(1): Article 2.
Mróz F., 2014. Religious pilgrims and tourism in Poland after the 1989 state transformation. Geografické informácie 2: 124-137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17846/GI.2014.18.2.124-137
Mróz F., 2019. The valorisation and evaluation of the tourism and cultural potential of the Lviv Way of St. James Via Regia (Lviv – Shehyni section). In: Apollo M., Krupska-Klimczak E. (eds), Poland and Ukraine: Problems and prospects. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego, Krakow: 97-152.
Mróz F., 2021. The impact of COVID 19 on pilgrimages and religious tourism in Europe during the first six months of the pandemic. Journal of Religion and Health 60: 625-645. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01201-0
Mróz F., Matuszczak J., 2019. New way – Resocialization on the Camino de Santiago. Issues in Childhood Care and Education 585(10): 15-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0013.6834
Mróz F., Mróz ŁA., 2013. Pilgrimage and religious tourism on the way of St. James – The first European cultural route. Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Geography 43(2): 366-379. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/vgg.2013.43.1742
Nilsson M., Tesfahuney M., 2016. Performing the “post-secular” in Santiago de Compostela. Annals of Tourism Research 57: 18-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.001
Pilgrim’s Reception Office, 2025. Statistics. Cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. Online: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics-2/ (accessed 3 January 2025).
Press Office Jasna Góra News, 2024. Pilgrimage statistics 2024. Online: https://www.jasnagora.com/tematy/Statystyki%20pielgrzymkowe/temat_61 (accessed 23 December 2024).
Puşcaşu V., 2015. Religious tourism or pilgrimage? European Journal of Science and Theology 11(3): 131-142.
Raj R., Griffin K.A., 2020. Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on religious tourism and pilgrimage. International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage 8(7): Article 2.
Rashid A.G., 2018. Religious tourism – A review of the literature. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights 1(2): 150-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-10-2017-0007
Romanelli M., Gazzola P., Grechi D., Pollice F., 2021. Towards a sustainability-oriented religious tourism. Systems Research and Behavioral Science 38(3): 386-396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2791
Rosak-Szyrocka J., Żywiołek J., Wolniak R., Santos G., 2023. Main reasons for religious tourism-from a quantitative analysis to a model. International Journal for Quality Research 17(1): 109-120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR17.01-08
Roszak P., Huzarek T., 2022. The challenging future of pilgrimage after the pandemic: New trends in pilgrimage to Compostela. Religions 13(6): 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13060523
Roszak P., Mróz F., 2024. The Camino de Santiago as a ‘spiritual journey’: A contemporary challenge to religion? Journal of Religion and Health 63: 4861-4875. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02108-2
Shackley M., 2005. Service delivery’ at sacred sites – Potential contribution of management science. European Journal of Science and Theology 1(4): 33-40.
Shinde K.A., 2015. Religious tourism and religious tolerance: Insights from pilgrimage sites in India. Tourism Review 70(3): 179-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-10-2013-0056
Silva F.M., Braga J.L., Otón M.P., Borges I., 2023. Pilgrimages on the Portuguese way to Santiago de Compostela: Evolution and motivations. Religions 14: 1-16, 1017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14081017
Slavin S., 2003. Walking as spiritual practice: The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Body & Society 9(3): 1-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1357034X030093001
Statistics Poland, 2022. Religious denominations in Poland 2019-2021. Online: https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/inne-opracowania/wyznania-religijne/wyznania-religijne-w-polsce-2019-2021,5,3.html (accessed 16 December 2024).
Štefko R., Kiráľová A., Mudrík M., 2015. Strategic marketing communication in pilgrimage tourism. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 175: 423-430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1219
Tarasiuk T., 2012. Wpływ sanktuariów i pielgrzymek na religijność Polaków po II Soborze Watykańskim (The influence of shrines and pilgrimages on the religiousness of Poles after the Second Vatican Council). Roczniki Teologiczne Warszawsko-Praskie 8: 242-271.
Yang E.C.L., 2020. What motivates and hinders people from travelling alone? A study of solo and non-solo travellers. Current Issues in Tourism 24(17): 2458-2471. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1839025
Zhang K., Labajo V., Ramos I., González del Valle-Brena A., 2021. A guest at home: The experience of Chinese pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Sustainability 13(19): 10658. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910658
Ziółkowska-Weiss K., Mróz F., Mróz ŁA., 2014. Pilgrimages and religious tourism of Poles and Czech. Following St. James’s steps to Santiago de Compostela. Current Issues of Tourism Research 4: 57-68.
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Aneta Anna Omelan , Grażyna Furgała-Selezniow, Małgorzata Jankun-Woźnicka
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.