Slow tourism, public funding and economic development. A critical review on the case of the Way of St. James in Galicia

Abstract

The analysis of the economic dimension relating to the Way of St. James is confronted in a double reflection. On the one hand, the intention is to reconstruct the public funds that have supported the project to relaunch the Way over the years. On the other hand, we discuss one of the impacts of the route on the territory - that relating to economic development following the “second coming” of tourism. The analysis of both aspects shows rather unexpected results. In the first case it is shown how slow tourism projects can be real priority axes on which to concentrate large public funds. The second calls into question the effective ability of a path, albeit with significant tourist flows, to activate demographic recovery and to improve economic conditions. However, the need is discussed to investigate the question in greater detail which, if analyzed in the various parts, really shows the importance, not only economic, that the process of development of the Way has entailed for the territory it passes through.