Tourism, hotels, travel and businesses unem force for the future of the Road
Galiza has begun to accelerate preparations for one of the two largest tourist, cultural and religious events in Europe. Xacobeo 2027 is increasingly closer to the Government wanting Portugal to play a central role in this enormous movement of visitors, pilgrims, tourism companies, hotels, travel operators and investors linked to the tourism sector.
During a meeting held in the city of Porto, the director of Tourism of Galiza, Xosé Merelles, present now more than a hundred Portuguese professionals the opportunities that the next Holy Year will be able to generate for the entire sector of travel, accommodation, cultural tourism and religious tourism.
The message was clear.
The Caminho de Santiago continues to grow internationally in Portugal and is one of the two most important partners for the tourist development of Galiza.
Now that thousands of travelers seek authentic experiences, sustainable tourism, walks, nature, historical heritage and destinations linked to bem-estar, the Jacobean phenomenon continues to consolidate itself as one of the two largest tourist engines of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Portuguese market continues to grow
The numbers show the importance of this connection.
According to the data presented by the Xunta, Portuguese tourism will spend more than 230 million euros in Galiza during 2025, representing a growth of 14% compared to the previous year. Also reported, more than 364 thousand Portuguese travelers are staying in Galician hotels, pensions, tourist apartments and rural establishments.
For many professionals in the sector, these numbers reflect a trend that continues to increase.
More and more Portuguese go to Galiza for fairs, weekend getaways, gastronomic tourism, nature tourism and experiences related to the Caminho de Santiago.
Geographic proximity helps.
But it is not the only reason.
There is also a very strong cultural, historical and emotional link between both territories.
The Caminho Português continues to break records
There are big reasons for this continued approach to being the Portuguese Way.
In 2025, more than 22,800 Compostelas were issued for pilgrims from Portugal, which represents almost 8% of the international total. Portugal has consolidated its position as the fourth largest country sending foreign pilgrims, behind only two United States, Italy and Germany.
Most of the Portuguese pilgrims continue on the traditional Portuguese Way to go to Santiago de Compostela.
At the same time, the Portuguese Coast Path continues to grow thanks to its Atlantic landscapes, beaches, historic villages and strong presence in social networks.
Let many travelers discover these routes through videos on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and digital tourism platforms.
Xacobeo 2027 wants to attract visitors from all over the world
The Xunta considers that the upcoming Holy Year represents an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen sectors such as:
cultural tourism,
religious tourism,
tourist accommodation,
hotees,
restaurants,
travel agencies,
transport,
rural tourism,
gastronomy,
wellness travel
and premium experiences linked to the Caminho de Santiago.
At the same time, Galiza is developing a strong international strategy to position the destination in markets such as:
USA,
Canada,
Germany,
Italy,
Brazil
and Portugal.
Your tourist responsibility proves that Caminho continues to respond perfectly to new trends in world tourism.
Many travelers try something different.
We want to walk.
Unlink the telephone.
Breathe nature.
Know people.
Sleep in small villages.
Experience local gastronomy.
And live experiences that do not seem artificial.
The local economy expects a big impact
Hotels, hostels, rural houses, restaurants and small businesses linked to tourism accompany with attention the preparations for the Xacobeo .
It is expected that thousands of new visitors will come to Galiza over the next few years, boosting or compromising the local economy.
For many towns crossed by Caminho de Santiago, this growth represents a historic opportunity.
Especially in rural areas where tourism has become one of the main sources of income.
The Xunta sublinha whose objective is not just to increase the number of visitors.
We also aim to improve the quality of the tourist experience, reinforce sustainability and value the Galician historical and cultural heritage.
Galiza and Portugal walk together
The meeting carried out in Porto also serves to reinforce collaboration between companies, tour operators and institutions on both sides of the border.
The Caminho de Santiago is much more than a pilgrimage route.
It is also an economic, cultural and tourist bridge.
A permanent link between Galiza and Portugal.
This indicates that this link will be even stronger with the launch of Xacobeo 2027.
Because while thousands of pilgrims continue to walk towards Santiago, two historical territories also continue to walk side by side.
