A pilgrim but a tourist too: re-examining the contemporary links

Abstract

ABSTRACT The discussion about the definition of ‘tourism’ and ‘pilgrimage’ has been intensified over the time. This paper has as its main goal to understand how pilgrimage routes are perceived and experienced by contemporary pilgrims. The Camino de Santiago has been taken as a case study, as it is one of the main European pilgrimage routes. The methodological strategy applied is quantitative through a structured questionnaire carried out with 414 pilgrims. The model proposed for the analyses allowed to characterise the pilgrims who do the Camino de Santiago. The study identifies and evaluates four main motivations that lead to the Camino de Santiago and that could predictably be extrapolated to other pilgrimage routes: well-being and pleasure; spirituality and avoidance; socialisation and entertainment; and religious motives.