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.

 

[gittiharre]

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

Just downloaded Arte and it says, not available

 

[dougfitz]

Not viewable in the US

Just downloaded Arte and it says, not available

I was able to see it using a VPN set to Germany. There were technical issues which might have arisen anywhere from my local ISP through to the content provider, and I didn't get past the first minute or so.

 

[bullingtonce]

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

The problem is that there are larger and larger numbers of people, not all but probably most, who are on a spiritual path? Me thinks the first think to accept is that there ought to be no action taken to discourage or eliminate such a person. Then, go from them in terms of handling crowds/numbers that pose a threat to local infrastructure and village sensibilities. And finally, turn to the locals for how to deal with and handle the situation but do so with these locals have an expectation of increased revenue and benefits. The fact has to be accepted that pilgrimages are only going to increase; therefore, management becomes a key element.
One possibility is to limit the numbers on a particular pilgrimage and require the excess to use other routes. Ideal to these particular pilgrims, no. Necessary, yes. One's expectation in life has to be minimized and, yes, even controlled. Welcome to life. Chuck

 

[gittiharre]

I was able to see it using a VPN set to Germany. There were technical issues which might have arisen anywhere from my local ISP through to the content provider, and I didn't get past the first minute or so.

I'm in New Zealand...

 

[dougfitz]

I'm in New Zealand..

A VPN will allow you to set a virtual location which makes your computer appear to be in that country. Setting the location to Germany (in this case) allows you to access content that is only made available in the virtual location you have chosen. I also use it when I am travelling, and set my virtual location to Australia so that I can access content from home that I might not be able to access from overseas.

 

[Kathor1]

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.

@AchimBerlin, thank you for pointing out this short documentation.

I found it to be very balanced. A nice mix of the experience of the three young pilgrims, the woman who lives in the San Pedro suburb of Santiago and the Ave Fenix albergue in Villafranca with Jato who is now 84 years old. Did they say that he has six daughters, all of them living in the cities and none of them will eventually take over the albergue?

Forum members who had stayed there will enjoy these scenes in particular. And there is of course a queimada ceremony to be seen.

Also thanks for pointing out the option of following it without voice over. I enjoyed watching it with everybody speaking in their chosen language with German subtitles.

 

[Kathor1]

As @dougfitz recommends, a good VPN app with acces point set to a German city ought to do the trick for those who are faced with geoblocking. I recently watched the BBC’s complete first series of Wolf Hall thanks to VPN. For the first time since using Express VPN, the connection got frequently interrupted and I had to re-initialise it. Best of luck to all who try to watch ARTE from other continents!

 

[Kathor1]

The problem is that there are larger and larger numbers of people, not all but probably most, who are on a spiritual path?

@bullingtonce, I take it that you did not watch the ARTE documentation and you never observed those “Sarria crowds” yourself? The issue of overcrowding is multi-faceted and the solutions are not simple.

My takeaway from the ARTE documentation is that young pilgrims in particular both enjoy partying in the evenings and suffer from it because the noise keeps them awake when they want to sleep. Another issue are the large organised groups of again young pilgrims - groups of 30 to 40 persons or even as much as 200 and more - who often and quite obviously march into Santiago as a group, carrying large religious banners and crucifixes, or oversized national flags or association flags, but who also cause unbearable noise for the local population living in their homes along these streets, due to the groups' chanting of slogans and singing of hymns and playing of drums and guitars and trumpets when marching into Santiago - even in the early hours of the morning. This happens in particular during the summer months.

The documentation also shows two young men employed by the city administration of Santiago who are dressed in special outfits and walk among the crowds on the Obradoiro square tasked with raising awareness - they have tablets and a device for measuring the noise level in decibels and try to talk to those who are willing to listen.

 

[Kathor1]

The documentation also shows two young men employed by the city administration of Santiago who are dressed in special outfits and walk among the crowds on the Obradoiro square tasked with raising awareness

Below is a link to an article about these informadores turisticos.

The aim is to foster a harmonious coexistence between the people who visit Compostela and those who reside in it. The city administration had also initiated an information campaign in albergues and hostels in the city to raise awareness about this issue. One can think what one wants about such efforts - at least they are trying to do something to improve the living conditions for the inhabitants in the Old Town section of Santiago that has deteriorated due to the increase of visitors - pilgrims and and other tourists alike.

Diez informadores turísticos recorren las calles de Santiago para lograr una "convivencia armónica"

El Código de Boas Prácticas y un sonómetro para medir los niveles de ruidos son algunas de los recursos con los que cuentan ...

diariocompostela.elidealgallego.com

 

[Scott Fraser]

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

I think Suseia was trying to correct a typo in the message immediately above. I’m sure she meant no offense.

 

[Freetogo]

As @dougfitz recommends, a good VPN app with acces point set to a German city ought to do the trick for those who are faced with geoblocking. I recently watched the BBC’s complete first series of Wolf Hall thanks to VPN. For the first time since using Express VPN, the connection got frequently interrupted and I had to re-initialise it. Best of luck to all who try to watch ARTE from other continents!

 

[AchimBerlin]

@AchimBerlin, thank you for pointing out this short documentation.

I found it to be very balanced. A nice mix of the experience of the three young pilgrims, the woman who lives in the San Pedro suburb of Santiago and the Ave Fenix albergue in Villafranca with Jato who is now 84 years old. Did they say that he has six daughters, all of them living in the cities and none of them will eventually take over the albergue?

Forum members who had stayed there will enjoy these scenes in particular. And there is of course a queimada ceremony to be seen.

Also thanks for pointing out the option of following it without voice over. I enjoyed watching it with everybody speaking in their chosen language with German subtitles.

Yes, it’s mentioned that none of his family wants to take over the albergue. Pity.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Thank you for pointing this out Being a German living in Sweden I am used to using a VPN to access material from my home country ;-)