German/French documentary about the problems of over-tourism on the Camino

[AchimBerlin]

There's a new 30-Minute documentary on German/French arts and culture channel "arte" which deals with the ever growing attraction of the Camino and the burden of over-tourism on the inhabitants of Santiago. It follows a group of young pilgrims who went all the way on the Frances and how they experience the last stages from Sarria. It also portrays legendary hospitalero Jesús from Albergue Ave Feníx in Villafranca del Bierzo.
The docu is with French or German commentary only, but you can switch to a mixed language version where you hear the interviewees talking English and Spanish, subtitles in German and Polish as well.

Re: Tourimeile Jakobsweg - Die ganze Doku | ARTE

Der Jakobsweg wird zum Tourist*innenmagnet: Besonders auf dem letzten Abschnitt des Camino Frances pilgern jedes Jahr mehr Menschen nach Santiago de Compostela. Dort sorgt der Pilger-Boom zunehmend für Spannungen. Abseits der Tourist*innen-Massen setzt sich Herbergsvater Jésus Jato dafür ein...

www.arte.tv

 

[domigee]

Thank you for this, I am going to watch it!

 

[Pafayac]

I saw this documentary. It is a useful remembering of known problems and it should involve us in the research of solutions in order to avoir the saturation of the Camino, especially on the last 100 kms.
One point is that we, pilgrims, are a part of this problem, as somebody remembered us a few months ago...
Therefore, according to me, there are at this point 2 ways of exploring:
- Choosing other caminos (Via Francigena, Olaf pilgrimage, Via de Assisi...)
- Discouraging tour-operators and all the business around the Camino.

 

[Old Hillwalker]

Not viewable in the US

 

[VNwalking]

Discouraging tour-operators and all the business around the Camino.

Commercialization is the issue, yes. But what can we do about that? It doesn't seem like a solvable problem, at the ground level.

 

[Pafayac]

But what can we do about that?

Individually, I am afraid nothing. But often we belongs to pilgrims associations. Perhaps we can do something to prohibit that one person hold several credentials in order to have them signed ?
IMHO, the first thing to do is to release the 100 km rule, by giving a Compostela to who asks for it (even by mail).

 

[Pafayac]

Not viewable in the US

Try this:

How to watch ARTE TV in the USA

How to watch ARTE TV in the US Set out on a cultural journey with ARTE TV in the US. ARTE TV has a variety of French and German shows, series, and

www.purevpn.com

 

[suseia]

The problem of the frances is undeniably real.. In any case I think that the number of pilgrims change a lot along the frances before sarria and it is not the same in the different stages.. For example, this summer in september we hiked from sjpp to burgos and i didn't find a real crowd (for sure not after Pamplona) also because most of the pilgrims walked solo or in two and the groups of the "Camino friends" are quite various modifying often their composition. .. I have not walked the meseta yet, but the number of pilgrims is low in this part of the camino..and then I feel the Camino as a sort of "moving community" that helps my personal introspection consequently the number of pilgrims until sarria doesnt "disturb" my experience..In any case as we often say in this forum we are the ceo

 

[suseia]

... We are the crowd

 

[JerryStroebele]

. Perhaps we can do something to prohibit that one person hold several credentials in order to have them signed ?

Just saw that happen in Santiago in late October. My niece and I had just finished checking in to our albergue when a woman walked in and grabbed the sello tool and started stamping a stack of maybe 10 credentials. She whacked it with such force the hospitalero had to warn her to be more gentle, she might break it. Buen Camino

 

[Pafayac]

I have not walked the meseta yet, but the number of pilgrims is low in this part of the camino

Except during spring (the best season when walking the meseta).

 

[Pafayac]

... We are the crowd

I am not a crowd ! I am a human being ! ;-)

 

[dfox]

There's a new 30-Minute documentary on German/French arts and culture channel "arte" which deals with the ever growing attraction of the Camino and the burden of over-tourism on the inhabitants of Santiago.

Many world-famous cities and historical landmarks, such as Venice in Italy, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, face significant challenges due to over-tourism. These issues include environmental strain, overcrowding, and disruptions to local communities. However, it’s important to recognize that tourism also plays a vital role in supporting their economies through visitors' spending.

I trust that the City Councils and urban planners in these destinations are actively working to address the challenges posed by over-tourism. By implementing thoughtful policies and innovative solutions, they can strike a balance between preserving their cultural and natural heritage and ensuring that tourism continues to benefit both residents and visitors alike.

 

[mgnswaus]

From my observations and personal experience, there has been a significant increase in small and particularly larger groups of 30 or 40 which impact in many ways on infrastructure of all kinds in that particular ‘wave’. Ads for guided groups can be found in increasing numbers on social media.

 

[williamlittig]

I saw this documentary. It is a useful remembering of known problems and it should involve us in the research of solutions in order to avoir the saturation of the Camino, especially on the last 100 kms.
One point is that we, pilgrims, are a part of this problem, as somebody remembered us a few months ago...
Therefore, according to me, there are at this point 2 ways of exploring:
- Choosing other caminos (Via Francigena, Olaf pilgrimage, Via de Assisi...)
- Discouraging tour-operators and all the business around the Camino.

I've been a joyful Hospitalero at Ribadiso three times and seen the impact of crowds on the last 100km. Schools and tour groups come in waves. We have a beautiful place in the country where it is calm and you can soak your tired feet. Large groups will stop here, soak, have lunch and unconsciously leave their garbage, use the albergue bathroom(we can't monitor what we don't see), single pilgrims have to elbow their way through and don't witness the tranquility that will return in 30 minutes. Many do rest, breath, soak then realize because they fear not having a bed, they have a reservation ahead 3km. and must leave. Alternate short routes are not prepared for classes of 50-100 and the investment might not see a return. I've recently heard of a certificate for visiting the Cathedral in Santiago, we see tour-grinos that collect sellos but walk very little, and get a Compostella (sad) E-bike's have recently been disqualified. Perhaps alternate rewards could reduce the impact on the last 100km? Still crowds can be a problem but it could mean other pilgrimages could be with certificates. Avila, Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, Obvieto etc.