Alfonso Ferreira analyzes the impact of the Portuguese Way: Next Thursday, April 3, at 8:00 p.m., the Sociocultural Espazo on Camilo José Cela Street will be the setting for the presentation of the study "Pilgrims and tourism development on the Portuguese Way as it passes through Tui", carried out by Alfonso Ferreira. This analysis delves into the relevance of Portuguese Way for the town.
With a solid connection with the Jacobean movement and an extensive career as a pilgrim, Alfonso Ferreira developed a work that combined the consultation of bibliographic and academic sources from Galicia and northern Portugal, with extensive field work. For four months, Ferreira dedicated himself to direct observation of the Camino.
From February to November 2024, Ferreira settled at the starting point of the Path in Tui, where he recorded the passage of 39,546 pilgrims and collected 4,324 surveys. The analysis of this data allowed him to develop an updated perspective on pilgrim traffic and its impact on the city.
The results of this investigation raise doubts about the official statistics managed so far, which come from the Pilgrim's Office of the Cathedral of Santiago. It is suggested, therefore, that the actual number of pilgrims passing through Tui could be higher than that recorded.
The mayor of Tui, Enrique Cabaleiro, publicly expressed his gratitude towards Ferreira's work, highlighting his altruistic nature and the personal effort dedicated to welcoming and guiding pilgrims. Furthermore, the mayor highlighted how the conclusions of the study confirm the importance of the Portuguese Way as a key element for tourism and culture in the region.
This event is part of the intention of Tui Town Hall to emphasize the value of the Camino de Santiago as a driver of local development, both in the economic and cultural spheres, and in its commitment to improving the care and services directed to pilgrims.
