Opinion: tourism pressure threatens the authenticity of the Camino
Rafael Sanchez Bargiela, a historian and former director of Xacobeo (the public agency in Galicia responsible for coordinating the Holy Year, managing the public network of albergues, and defining policies for the Camino de Santiago), warns that increasing tourism pressure is distancing the route from its traditional pilgrimage experience. He argues that the Camino must remain grounded in its historical, cultural, spiritual, and hospitality-based identity, including the donor-supported albergues, which he sees increasingly under strain.
According to him, the recent rise of the Portuguese Camino, driven largely by international air links through Porto, has changed the profile of pilgrims and expanded short-duration routes. Bargiela warns about the growth of coastal variants promoted as historical without documented evidence, noting that attractive seaside paths should not replace the route recorded over centuries. He considers it essential to preserve the certified path, particularly for those who travel long distances seeking a route with a well-established identity.
He also warns that the lack of accurate tracking of pilgrims using the certified Portuguese Coastal Route toward Tui distorts the understanding of real flows. Bargiela criticizes the promotion of routes without historical basis, both in Galicia and in Portugal — including the Geira Route and the so-called Torres Route — as there are no records proving their historical use, creating confusion and weakening certification efforts.
During the five years he directed Xacobeo, Bargiela promoted the standardization of signage throughout Galicia, combining the scallop shell with the yellow arrow, and urged Portuguese authorities to certify their routes. Now approaching retirement, he says he hopes to return to the Camino as a pilgrim, convinced that the uniqueness of the route depends on preserving its historical and spiritual dimension, which he sees as essential to safeguarding the future of pilgrimage.
