Spain Struggles With Overtourism As Santiago De Compostela Faces Growing Pilgrimage And Tourism Surge

Published on September 14, 2025

Santiago de Compostela, located successful nan northwest of Spain, is renowned arsenic nan last destination of nan Camino de Santiago, 1 of nan world’s astir celebrated visit routes. In caller years, however, this UNESCO World Heritage metropolis has been experiencing a tourism boom that is opening to situation its section fabric. The increasing influx of pilgrims and visitors has caused tensions betwixt visitors and nan long-standing residents of nan city.

In consequence to nan influx, a vicinity relation successful nan metropolis initiated a guideline aimed astatine improving tourer behavior. The guide, which was translated into respective languages, advised visitors to beryllium mindful of noise, travel postulation rules, and protect nan cobblestone streets pinch integrative caps connected hiking poles. Despite these efforts, residents study that their metropolis is progressively overtaken by tourists, pinch ample groups dominating nan streets, bikes riding successful nan incorrect direction, and nan chopped clattering of hiking poles connected nan cobblestones. This displacement has forced galore long-time residents retired of nan cardinal area owed to skyrocketing rent prices and a shortage of affordable housing.

The Toll of Overtourism: Residents Feel nan Pressure

The city’s struggle pinch overtourism is simply a reflection of a larger rumor successful galore world tourism hotspots: nan displacement of section populations arsenic tourism request skyrockets. Santiago de Compostela, erstwhile a comparatively serene and manageable city, now faces a caller challenge. With a organization of conscionable 3,000 residents successful nan historical center, Santiago is becoming progressively unrecognizable. Once vibrant section businesses, specified arsenic hardware stores, newsstands, and bakeries, are disappearing, replaced by souvenir shops, cafes, and crystal pick parlors catering to tourists. This translator is eroding nan city’s authentic section culture.

The city’s organization has shrunk dramatically complete nan past 2 decades. According to section reports, nan historical halfway mislaid almost half of its imperishable residents betwixt 2000 and 2020, and nan number of residents who stay successful nan area continues to dwindle. Many who person lived successful nan metropolis for years are now being forced to leave, incapable to spend nan rising rents spurred by nan proliferation of short-term tourer rentals.

Housing Crisis Fueled by Tourism Boom

The tourism boom has created a terrible lodging situation successful nan city, pinch rental prices expanding by 44% betwixt 2018 and 2023. The proliferation of short-term picnic rentals, specified arsenic those listed connected platforms for illustration Airbnb, has exacerbated nan situation. While immoderate short-term rental properties comply pinch section regulations, others proceed to run illegally, further driving up nan costs of living. This has near galore locals incapable to find affordable lodging successful their ain city, forcing them to unrecorded connected nan outskirts aliases successful adjacent towns.

A Record Surge successful Pilgrims and Tourists

This year, nan metropolis is connected way to spot different record-breaking number of pilgrims arriving to complete nan Camino de Santiago. Last twelvemonth alone, half a cardinal group signed up to trek 1 of nan approved routes starring to nan cathedral. This influx is not constricted to pilgrims; mundane visitors are besides flocking to nan city, eager to research its historical streets and monuments.

Pilgrims who erstwhile enjoyed a tranquil travel done nan historical scenery are now encountering overcrowded streets and noisy circuit groups. Some pilgrims person voiced interest that nan belief principle of nan Camino is being overshadowed by commercialized interests, pinch galore visitors now treating nan travel much arsenic a picnic alternatively than a belief pilgrimage.

Residents Speak Out: Seeking a Sustainable Future for Santiago

While immoderate residents and metropolis officials are calling for much sustainable tourism practices, location is simply a increasing consciousness of vexation pinch nan unchecked maturation of nan tourism industry. While nan metropolis has ever welcomed tourists, nan existent standard of tourism has reached an unsustainable level. The section organization is now calling for greater regularisation to guarantee that nan needs of residents are not overshadowed by nan demands of tourists.

The section authorities has responded to these concerns by requesting that nan region categorize Santiago arsenic a high-pressure zone, akin to cities for illustration Barcelona and San Sebastián. This classification would supply further protections for lodging and limit nan maturation of short-term rentals successful nan area. Additionally, efforts to enforce existing rental regulations are ongoing, pinch nan metropolis assembly pledging to return action against forbidden accommodations.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Preservation and Growth

As Santiago de Compostela, the UNESCO World Heritage metropolis grapples pinch nan challenges of overtourism, it must find a measurement to equilibrium nan needs of its residents pinch nan demands of nan world tourism market. Sustainable tourism practices will beryllium basal successful ensuring that nan metropolis tin proceed to thrive without sacrificing its taste integrity aliases nan well-being of its residents.

Local authorities are hopeful that by implementing stricter regulations and promoting responsible tourism, they tin sphere Santiago’s unsocial characteristic while ensuring that it remains an accessible destination for pilgrims and visitors alike. However, without due management, nan early of Santiago de Compostela’s historical halfway remains uncertain, and its residents proceed to look an uphill conflict successful their efforts to reclaim their metropolis from nan overwhelming forces of tourism.