Excessive tourism is expelling the places. “We have no tourism, but …”.
Tourist Sobresaturation is completely transforming Santiago de Compostelaone of the most iconic religious destinations in the world, and to push its inhabitants away.
In 2023, more than half a million pilgrims were registered to travel one of the official routes to the Cathedral- five times more than the resident population and a number that represents an increase of 725 times face four decades, according to. To the number are joined by tourists who arrive conventionally, without taking the route on foot.
Now, the residents ‘association-which, they guarantee, “do not have’ tourism ‘”-is uniting against “uncontrolled” tourism, said Roberto Almuíña, president of the residents’ association, quoted by.
The association began to distribute a multilingual guide with rules of good conduct: asks for silence on the streets, respect for traffic rules and the use of protections in walking sticks, to avoid damaging the stoned. But it has not resulted, until then, they say.
In this weeping, the biggest problem is the real estate pressure. According to a study commissioned by the Municipality to the Fundación University of Coruña, the lace increased 44% Between 2018 and 2023 due to the proliferation of short -term tourist housing.
In response, the municipality asked in May to the Regional Government to classify the city as a high housing pressure zone, as Barcelona or San Sebastián. Last November, it was prohibited the opening of new tourist housing in the historic center, a measure justified by the need to wage housing loss to residents and the escalation of prices. But even so, illegal housing continues, denounced by local groups such as the Xuntanza Association, which accuses many owners to circumvent the rules.
The City Council ensures that it is applying sanctions whenever it detects infractions, but the effects take time to feel. Between 2000 and 2020, the resident population in the historic center fell to half And today it does not exceed 3,000 inhabitants, surrounded by empty and degraded buildings. There are only a few supermarkets, cafes, gelatoria and souvenir shops left.
“Only those who inherited a house of grandparents or parents can stay,” laments a young woman.
Despite the economic impact of tourism, the rejection of the current model is growing: according to a study by the University of Santiago University Network Research Group, half of residents are already opposed to dependence on the city of the tourist sector, when this percentage was not exceeded a quarter. Even some pilgrims notice the change of environment.
“The path is increasingly famous and full of people. Sometimes it seems that it has lost a little of spirituality,” laments a Spanish pilgrim.
