The elusive goal of sustainable tourism. A Case Study of the Camino de Santiago in France and in Spain

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have trodden the Camino de Santiago to the tomb of Saint James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela. Despite its cultural and religious heritage, the pilgrimage’s popularity declined in the 16th and subsequent centuries, only to see a huge resurgence in recent decades. Somewhat paradoxically, the rejuvenation of a pilgrimage that is partly about a return to nature has raised a number of environmental issues. Hence, the recent influx of pilgrims is forcing the actors involved in managing this intangible asset to address the practical and pragmatic aspects of sustainable tourism. In conclusion, although the foundations for developing sustainable tourism along the Camino de Santiago have been laid, there remain large differences between what has been done in Spain and in France. Spain’s more global vision of the tourism economy and appreciation of its strategic value have given it a lead over France. However, France has made significant progress in recent years, as the government has understood that this unique heritage must be preserved by carefully managing the Routes of Santiago and the development of tourism along them. The Camino de Santiago has the potential to become a paradigm of cross-border sustainable tourism.